
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lee, Daphne 
A1  - Martini, Nataly 
A1  - Moyes, Simon 
A1  - Hayman, Karen 
A1  - Zolezzi, Monica 
A1  - Kerse, Ngaire 
T1  - Potentially inappropriate medication use: the Beers&#x92; Criteria used among older adults with depressive symptoms
JF  - Journal of Primary Health Care
JO  - J Prim Health Care
Y1  - 2013
VL  - 5
IS  - 3
SP  - 182
EP  - 190
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HC13182 
N2  - INTRODUCTION: The ageing population means prescribing for chronic illnesses in older people is expected to rise. Comorbidities and compromised organ function may complicate prescribing and increase medication-related risks. Comorbid depression in older people is highly prevalent and complicates medication prescribing decisions. AIM: To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in a community-dwelling population of older adults with depressive symptoms. METHODS: The medications of 191 community-dwelling older people selected because of depressive symptoms for a randomised trial were reviewed and assessed using the modified version of the Beers&#x92; Criteria. The association between inappropriate medication use and various population characteristics was assessed using Chi-square statistics and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean age was 81 (&#xb1;4.3) years and 59% were women. The median number of medications used was 6 (range 1&#x96;21 medications). The most commonly prescribed potentially inappropriate medications were amitriptyline, dextropropoxyphene, quinine and benzodiazepines. Almost half (49%) of the participants were prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medication; 29% were considered to suffer significant depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale =5) and no differences were found in the number of inappropriate medications used between those with and without significant depressive symptoms (Chi-square 0.005 p=0.54). DISCUSSION: Potentially inappropriate medication use, as per the modified Beers&#x92; Criteria, is very common among community-dwelling older people with depressive symptoms. However, the utility of the Beers&#x92; Criteria is lessened by lack of clinical correlation. Ongoing research to examine outcomes related to apparent inappropriate medication use is needed. KEYWORDS: Depression; depressive symptoms; inappropriate prescribing; older adults 
ER  -

