PRESCRIPCIÓN DE MEDICAMENTOS POTENCIALMENTE INAPROPIADOS EN ADULTOS MAYORES DEL SERVICIO AMBULATORIO DE UN HOSPITAL DE RIOBAMBA, ECUADOR

Nayelly Tibanquiza-Apo; Aída Miranda-Barros

doi:10.47187/perf.v1i34.350

Authors

Nayelly Tibanquiza-Apo Independent researcher, Riobamba, Ecuador
Aída Miranda-Barros Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Facultad de Ciencias, Grupo de Investigación de Farmacia y Productos Naturales, Riobamba, Ecuador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47187/perf.v1i34.350

Keywords:

older adults, potentially inappropriate medications, polypharmacy, inappropriate prescription

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prescribing patterns of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) among older adults attending outpatient consultations at a tertiary-level private hospital in Riobamba, Ecuador, between January and October 2023. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted by reviewing 193 medical records and corresponding prescriptions. Data were collected on variables such as sociodemographic characteristics, disease prevalence, and medication use. The identification of PIMs was based on a screening tool developed from the 2023 Beers Criteria. It was found that 60.56% of the medications listed in the Beers Criteria were available in the Ecuadorian pharmaceutical market. Among the 598 medications prescribed in the study sample, 14.21% were classified as potentially inappropriate. Diclofenac emerged as the most frequently prescribed PIM (36.47%), followed by omeprazole (21.18%) and acetylsalicylic acid (12.94%). A significant association was observed between polypharmacy and the likelihood of PIM use. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop and adopt targeted interventions and clinical decision support tools aimed at minimizing inappropriate prescribing, thereby promoting safer pharmacological management and enhancing the quality of life in the elderly population.

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