Potentially inappropriate medications in Chinese older adults: The beers criteria compared with the screening tool of older persons’ prescriptions criteria

Aim The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) use in West China Hospital residents aged ≥65 years, using two sets of criteria – the Beers and Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria – and to compare the Beers and STOPP criteria, and to determine the better criteria for assessing PIM of older adults in China. Methods This was a retrospective cross‐sectional study, and all patients were aged ≥65 years and admitted through the Information Center of West China Hospital from October 2010 to April 2013. The Beers and STOPP criteria were used to identify PIM. A multivariate logistic regression study was used to identify the predictors of PIM use. Results In the 6337 patients included, the mean age was 81.30 years (SD 6.75), 4795 (75.70%) were male and 5033 (79.42%) were prescribed at least one PIM by either criterion. The Beers criteria identified PIM use in 4593 (72.48%) of patients, and 3278 (51.73%) of patients used at least one PIM according to the STOPP criteria. The most prevalent PIM according to the Beers criteria were benzodiazepines (34.40%); according to the STOPP criteria, it was calcium channel blockers with chronic constipation (18.52%). Increasing age, sex (female), the number of diagnostic diseases and the number of prescribed medications predicted PIM use by both criteria. Conclusion The present study showed a high frequency of PIM in China. The Beers criteria had a higher detection rate and were more sensitive for assessing PIM of older adults in China. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1951–1958 .