What are the effects of inappropriate prescriptions in older adults?

medication

Individuals are often prescribed increasing numbers of medications as they age, and while many of these prescriptions are justifiable, some may be inappropriate. A recent analysis published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology examined the results of all studies investigating associations between potentially inappropriate prescribing—which includes prescribing medications that may not produce benefits relative to harm and not prescribing medications that are recommended—and outcomes of older adults.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing was significantly associated with a range of health-related and system-related outcomes, including functional decline, falls, and hospital admissions due to drug-related side effects.

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