Prescription of potentially inappropriate medications to older adults. A nationwide survey at dispensing pharmacies in Japan.
Prescriptions to older adults were surveyed to elucidate factors associated with potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in Japan. Adults aged ≥65 years, who were prescribed medications at 585 dispensing pharmacies across Japan, participated (N = 180,673). Data were collected between October 1 and October 31, 2014. Proportion of polypharmacy and that of PIMs increased with age (p < 0.001). Analgesic drugs were most commonly prescribed for the older adults aged 65-74 years, whereas benzodiazepines were prescribed most commonly for those aged over 75 years. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the increase of PIMs was explained by polypharmacy and mainly the use of central nervous systems (CNS) and psychotropic drugs. The increased prevalence of polypharmacy with age and the common use of CNS and psychotropic medications account for the PIMs in old age in the current nationwide survey.