Potentially inappropriate prescribing in patients over 65 years-old in a primary care health centre

Objective: To identify potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PPI) and prescribing omissions (OP) by means of the STOPP/START criteria, as well as associated factors in >= 65 year old patients in a Primary Care setting in Spain. Study design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study. Setting: Centro de Salud Monovar, Primary Health Care. Study period: 6 months. Patients Random sample: 247 patients. Eligibility criteria: >= 65 years patients who attended an urban Primary Care clinic 2 or more times were studied. Terminally ill and nursing home residents were excluded. Methods: Data were collected from electronic clinical records. STOPP and START criteria were evaluated in each clinical record, including age, sex, co-morbidity, number of chronic prescriptions. Main outcomes: PPI and OP identified by STOPP and START criteria, respectively. Results: A total of 81 patients (32.8%) had PPI, with the most common being the long-term use of long-acting benzodiazepines in 17 (6.9%). OP was found in 73 (29.6%) patients, with the most common being the omission of statins in patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and/or one or more major cardiovascular risk factors in 21 (8.5%). After adjustment by gender and age, correlations were found between PPI and multiple medication (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.15-3.53; P=.014), and OP and polypharmacy (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.32-4.24; P=0.004). Conclusions: Inappropriate prescribing in older people is frequent, and is mainly associated with long-acting benzodiazepines. There are diabetic patients who do not have statins prescribed. Multiple medication is associated with PPI and OR (C) 2013 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.