Key result
The prevalence of major drug-drug interactions among geriatric outpatients was 36.8%, with polypharmacy (OR 2.27-13.78) and various comorbidities significantly increasing the risk.
Why the study?
Drug-drug interactions can lead to clinically significant consequences in older populations, prompting investigation into their prevalence and associated factors among geriatric outpatients.
What is the prevalence and what are the factors associated with major drug-drug interactions among geriatric outpatients?
Observational (n=10,877)
No
What is the prevalence and what are the factors associated with major drug-drug interactions among geriatric outpatients?
Major drug-drug interactions are highly prevalent (36.8%) among geriatric outpatients, strongly driven by polypharmacy and multiple comorbidities.
DDI prevalence high in elderly outpatients; leaves open whether screening reduces adverse events.
(1) Background: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) possess the potential to lead to a range of clinically significant consequences in the older population. (2) Aims: To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of DDIs among older patients within an outpatient setting of a university hospital. (3) Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of patients aged ≥65 years, who received a minimum of two medications. The electronic medical records were obtained from the outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital between November 2021 and November 2022. The outcomes were analyzed using descriptive and regression analysis. (4) Results: The study enrolled 10,877 patients, with a mean age of 74.3 ± 6.8 years. The prevalence of major DDI was 36.8%. Factors associated with major DDI were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03), female sex (OR 1.23), polypharmacy (OR 2.27-13.78), metabolic disease (OR 1.89), psychiatric disorder (OR 1.79), cardiovascular disease (OR 1.51), musculoskeletal disease (OR 1.37), central nervous system disease (OR 1.24), and tuberculosis (OR 0.18). There was a significant difference observed in the primary healthcare facilities for emergency medicine (OR 1.72), orthopedics (OR 1.36), internal medicine (OR 1.29), and radiology (OR 0.45). (5) Conclusions: Major DDI was prevalent among older patients receiving care at outpatient settings. Several factors linked to major DDIs were identified. Developing appropriate strategies to improve the prescription process and avoid any missed interactions with geriatric patients is recommended.
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Wannawichate et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Geriatric outpatients (n=10,877). Patient demographics, comorbidities, and polypharmacy was evaluated on Prevalence of major drug-drug interactions. The prevalence of major drug-drug interactions among geriatric outpatients was 36.8%, with polypharmacy (OR 2.27-13.78) and various comorbidities significantly increasing the risk.
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