Clinical and Economical Assessment of an Intervention to Reduce Potentially Inappropriate Medication in Polymedicated Elderly Patients

Clinical and Economical Assessment of an Intervention to Reduce Potentially Inappropriate Medication in Polymedicated Elderly Patients

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and economic impact of the application of an algorithm to improve the adequacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in elderly polymedicated (receiving 8 or more medications), not institutionalized.

Design: randomized, open, multicenter and two branches of parallel intervention clinical trial.

Intervention Study: primary care pharmacist apply the GP-GP algorithm to each drug with the support of STOPP criteria, Beers and / or recommendations CatSalut. The pharmacist submit to doctor his findings and reach a consensus and decide which recommendations will be presented to patient. Control intervention: usual procedure.

Main outcome measures: a) Discontinued medications, changed or changing doses, b) GP consultations, hospital emergency department and hospital admissions for acute illness, c) pharmaceutical expenditure, d) restart medication e) complications underlying diseases. Follow-up control at 1 month (security) and at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 70 years or more
• Currently receiving eight or more drugs, except ointments and administered via topical nonprescription
• Give their informed written consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Estimated life expectancy less than 6 months.
• Active cancer
• Participation in any other clinical trial or program for evaluation of medication in the elderly.
• Institutionalized in nursing homes.
• Surgical intervention scheduled for the next 6 months