Files
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in Georgia nursing home residents and to examine the risk factors for potentially
inappropriate medication use. Method: Retrospective data analysis. The Georgia
Long-term Care Database was examined to evaluate for potentially inappropriate
medication use in elderly residents. 1348 patient charts between March 1st and June 1st, 2002 were reviewed to establish the database. Results: Of the 1,161 older residents, 43.7 % of patients had at least one potentially inappropriate medication while 12.2 % patients had two or more. The most frequently used potentially inappropriate drugs or drug classes are antihistaminic agents, propoxyphene, sedative-hypnotics, iron supplements, and digoxin. Logistic regression demonstrated that the number of medications and diabetes predicted potentially inappropriate medication use. Conclusions: Potentially inappropriate medication use is common in Georgia nursing homes. Patients with more drugs are at the greatest risk for having a potentially inappropriate medication while diabetic patients have less risk.