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Comparison of Admission and Discharge Medications in Two Geriatric Populations
Author(s) -
Alexander Neil,
Goodwin James S.,
Currie Colin
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1985.tb05434.x
Subject(s) - medicine , polypharmacy , drug , age groups , geriatrics , medical prescription , pediatrics , emergency medicine , demography , pharmacology , psychiatry , sociology
Drug usage patterns were determined from a chart review of two groups of the elderly upon admission to and discharge from the hospital. A comparision was made between a United States group (N = 60) and a Scotland group (N = 60). The most common drugs noted in both groups were cardiovascular drugs (primarily diuretics) and vitamins and minerals. The mean number of drugs per patient in both groups was approximately four, with minimal change in number between admission and discharge. The number of drugs decreased with male sex and increasing age in the United States group and increased with male sex and increasing age in the Scotland group. The Scotland group was on more short‐acting benzodiazepines, more bowel medications, more antidepressants, more antiparkinson agents, and fewer respiratory drugs than the United States group. Although both groups tended to have certain drugs deleted, Scotland patients were more likely to have narcotics discontinued and bowel medications added before discharge. These drug usage patterns demonstrate substantial polypharmacy in the elderly and the importance of selecting appropriate drugs in the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc 33:827, 1985