Are older W estern A ustralians exposed to potentially inappropriate medications according to the B eers C riteria? A 13‐year prevalence study

Aim To examine time trends and factors associated with exposure to potentially inappropriate medications ( PIMs ) by the B eers C riteria. Methods PIM consumption days accumulated from the pharmaceutical claims of 251 305 W estern A ustralians aged ≥ 65 years (1993–2005) and person follow‐up times produced counts/rates. L ogistic/ P oisson regression generated odds/rate ratios. Results A total of 187 616 participants (74.7%) took ≥ 1 PIM (1993–2005), the cohort consuming 109 415 PIM daily doses/1000 person‐years. Annual exposure decreased from 45–47% to 40%, and annual consumption rate declined from 117 836 to 90 364 daily doses/1000 person‐years. T emazepam had the highest exposures ( > 17 000 daily doses/1000 person‐years). Number of medications taken ( OR 35.03; 95% CI 34.37–35.71 for ≥ 10 vs. 0–2 drugs), annual drug intake (2.08; 2.04–2.12 for highest vs. lowest quartile), and high‐level residential aged care (1.96; 1.91–2.01) were most predictive of PIM exposure. Conclusions PIM exposure remains high in older W estern A ustralians. Our findings identify patients most at risk and medications to consider on A ustralia‐specific PIM lists.