Background: The
elderly population is one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the
world. Inter-individual differences in age
related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes as well as co-morbid
conditions have to be considered while prescribing medicines in elderly
population. This population is vulnerable to many diseases and drug related problems. There
are various problems with medicine treatment in elderly population like
inappropriate prescribing is more likely to occur in elderly patients since
they may receive several drugs simultaneously on account of chronic diseases and/or
multiple health problems and polypharmacy, altered drug response, adverse drug
reactions (ADRs) and patient non-compliance.
Need for the Study: The elderly population is increasing rapidly worldwide. Their growth rate (1.9%) is higher than general population (1.2%). At present, India is the third country after China and USA with large elderly population in the world. Elderly population has special problems related to health, social support, and economic security. Their healthcare need differs from the younger people. Though elderly are reported to be responsible for half the total drug usage, less than 5% of randomized control trials have been designed for them. Therefore, data available from younger subjects are used to guide prescribing in elderly. Physiological and pharmacological variations in elderly population include decreased total body mass, blood flow to various organs, immunity, and nervous functions; down- or up regulation of various receptors; and disturbance in first pass metabolism, bioavailability, metabolism, and excretion. Presence of co-morbidities in elderly people require use of multiple medications which increase the irrational prescription, use of inappropriate medications, noncompliance, economic burden, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and drug interactions. The overall incidence of ADR is two to three times higher and most of them are potentially avoidable in elderly patients. These hurdles in pharmacotherapy can be overcome by periodic evaluation of drug utilization and optimizing prescribing pattern by forming prescription guidelines for geriatric patients. Drug utilization research is an important tool to analyze the use of drugs with special emphasis on medical, social, and economic consequences in a society.
Need for the Study: The elderly population is increasing rapidly worldwide. Their growth rate (1.9%) is higher than general population (1.2%). At present, India is the third country after China and USA with large elderly population in the world. Elderly population has special problems related to health, social support, and economic security. Their healthcare need differs from the younger people. Though elderly are reported to be responsible for half the total drug usage, less than 5% of randomized control trials have been designed for them. Therefore, data available from younger subjects are used to guide prescribing in elderly. Physiological and pharmacological variations in elderly population include decreased total body mass, blood flow to various organs, immunity, and nervous functions; down- or up regulation of various receptors; and disturbance in first pass metabolism, bioavailability, metabolism, and excretion. Presence of co-morbidities in elderly people require use of multiple medications which increase the irrational prescription, use of inappropriate medications, noncompliance, economic burden, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and drug interactions. The overall incidence of ADR is two to three times higher and most of them are potentially avoidable in elderly patients. These hurdles in pharmacotherapy can be overcome by periodic evaluation of drug utilization and optimizing prescribing pattern by forming prescription guidelines for geriatric patients. Drug utilization research is an important tool to analyze the use of drugs with special emphasis on medical, social, and economic consequences in a society.
Objective:
Main aim of this study is to evaluate the drug
utilization patterns among geriatric in-patientsat a tertiary care hospital.
Setting and Method: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study
would be conducted among geriatricpatients admitted to the General Medicine
ward during an eight month period at a tertiary care hospital.
Main
Outcome Measures:
Drug utilization patterns in geriatric patients, dose adjustments, patient
counselling needs, pharmaco-economic evaluation of prescribed medication,
physicians’ adherence to guidelines, patient compliance to prescribed
medication.
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