낙상으로 입원한 노인의 다약제복용과 잠재적 부적절 약물 사용

Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Elderly Patients Hospitalized after Falls

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in elderlypatients admitted to hospitals after falls. Methods: The study surveyed 283 patients 65 or older admitted January 1-December 31,2016. Data were collected from electronic medical records, and medications administered immediately prior to admission were examined. PIM use for patients was investigated using the Beers criteria, and data were analyzed by Chi-square test and independent ttest. Results: The average age of participants was 79.42±8.16, and the study included 226 women (79.9%) and 57 men (20.1%). Theaverage number of self-administered medications daily was 4.94±3.68, and 55.1% took five or more medications. PIM use was foundin 107 patients (37.8%). There was a significant difference in polypharmacy according to age, and the proportion of medical aid beneficiariesand prevalence of cardiocerebrovascular, endocrine, and other chronic diseases were higher in the polypharmacy and PIMuse patients than in the non-polypharmacy and non-PIM use patients. The number of chronic diseases and medications taken weresignificantly high among polypharmacy and PIM use patients. Conclusion: It is necessary to minimize polypharmacy and PIM use,and establish a system for systematically evaluating and managing medication use to prevent falls in the elderly.