Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use Among Hospitalized Geriatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lebanon

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) can lead to significant risks of adverse health outcomes and increased hospitalization risks. Geriatric patients are more prone to PIM due to polypharmacy and comorbidities. This study aims to assess PIM use among hospitalized geriatric patients and to identify the predictors of PIM in hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Lebanon over four months, targeting 268 geriatric patients admitted to the hospital's internal medicine department. Two clinical pharmacists used a uniform data collection sheet from patients’ medical charts. PIM was assessed according to the updated Beers criteria of 2019. Results: The sample was equally distributed between men (51.9%) and women (48.1%). A higher proportion of patients were between 75 and 84 years (49.3%), and most participants had two comorbidities. Medication overuse was reported among 69.4% of patients primarily due to insufficient proof of effectiveness and valid indication. Misuse and underuse of medication were found among 65.7% and 85.1% of patients, respectively, and were related to PIM, drug interactions, and the lack of effective treatment. Patients staying in the hospital for more than 8 days had 3.18 times higher odds of medication misuse than patients with a lower hospital stay. Those with mild or moderate renal functions had 70% and 67% lower odds of medication misuse than those with normal functions. Among others, antibiotics, antiplatelet drugs, and antidepressant prescriptions were associated with PIM. Conclusion: A high prevalence of PIM use was found among geriatric patients, highlighting the importance of drug reassessment and management.