Drug-Related Problems Identified Among Elderly Patients at a Geriatric Clinic in Jos, North Central Nigeria

Background: Elderly patients are disproportionately affected by drug-related problems (DRPs) due to polypharmacy, altered pharmacokinetics, and multimorbidity. In Nigeria, geriatric pharmaceutical care is an emerging field with limited evidence on DRP prevalence and type in clinical settings. This study identified DRPs among elderly patients attending a geriatric clinic at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over three months, involving medication review of 180 patients aged 60 years and above. Pharmaceutical care network Europe (PCNE) classification version 9.1 was used to classify DRPs. Patient records, medication lists, and clinical notes were reviewed systematically. Results: A total of 342 DRPs were identified across 180 patients, with an average of 1.9 DRPs per patient. The most frequent problems were untreated indications (26%), adverse drug reactions (22%), and non-adherence (18%). Polypharmacy, defined as five or more concurrent medications, was found in 63 percent of patients. Conclusion: DRPs are highly prevalent among elderly patients in Jos and are closely linked to polypharmacy. Routine pharmacist-led medication review should be integrated into geriatric care protocols to minimise harm and optimise therapy. Keywords: drug-related problems, elderly patients, polypharmacy, Jos, geriatric care