Assessment of Medication Use in Elderly Patients at a Geriatric Clinic in Enugu State

Polypharmacy and inappropriate medication prescribing in elderly patients are major contributors to adverse drug events and declining quality of life in this vulnerable population. This study assessed medication use patterns and the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing among elderly patients at a geriatric outpatient clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South East Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 patients aged 65 years and above with at least one chronic condition. Prescriptions and medication histories were obtained, and potentially inappropriate prescribing was evaluated using the Beers Criteria 2023 and the STOPP/START criteria version 2. Results showed a mean of 5.4 medications per patient, indicating high polypharmacy prevalence (defined as five or more drugs daily) in 63.3 percent of participants. Potentially inappropriate medications were identified in 41.1 percent of patients according to Beers Criteria. Benzodiazepines, NSAIDs in patients with hypertension, and antihistamines with significant anticholinergic burden were the most common inappropriate drug classes identified. Omission of indicated medications (START criteria) was noted in 38.9 percent of patients, most commonly involving appropriate bone protection therapy and anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. The study recommends comprehensive medication review by clinical pharmacists using validated screening tools as a routine component of geriatric care at Nigerian teaching hospitals.

Keywords: polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate prescribing, elderly patients, Beers Criteria, geriatric pharmacy