The elderly population is the highest consumer of drugs so a high degree of care is required while prescribing certain drugs to this vulnerable group. Certain drugs are classified as potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for the elderly because they carry increased risk of adverse drug events in the patient group. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of potentially inappropriate drugs in geriatrics in a tertiary care teaching hospital. A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of six months from January 2021 to June 2021 with a sample size of 103. The data was collected from all the geriatrics patients who are aged above 65 years. The collected data was evaluated using Beers criteria 2019. Out of 175 geriatric patients 103 medications were prescribed inappropriately, when compared with the Beers criteria. The most common inappropriate medications include CNS drugs (27%), Analgesics (17%), Gastro intestinal medications (12%), Diuretics (11%), Respiratory tract drugs (6%), Cardio vascular drugs and anti-emetic drugs (4%). Based on 5 different components of Beers criteria 2019, the Organ system/therapeutic category owns (47.50%) inappropriate medications, Disease or syndrome category includes (20.3%) PIMs. The drugs to be used with caution includes (9.7%), Drug interaction includes (19.4%), the drugs to be used according to renal function gives (2.9%) of total PIMs. This study pinpoints that prescribing medications as per Beers criteria can promote a better prescribing practices and older people can achieve good health status.
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