FREQUENCY OF RISK FACTORS THAT POTENTIALLY INCREASE HARM FROM MEDICATIONS IN OLDER ADULTS RECEIVING PRIMARY CARE
Main Article Content
Keywords
Older adults, primary care, medication
Abstract
Background
Many circumstances elevate patients, especially older adults, risk for drug-related morbidity and misadventures. Understanding the frequency of these situations can help with the design of initiatives to address or alter these circumstances with the aim of reducing medication therapy-related concerns and associated expenditures.
Objective
To describe the frequency of circumstances that may place older adults at higher risk for drug-related morbidity and misadventures in a large sample of elderly patients visiting family medicine clinics.
Methods
Elderly adults at 7 family medicine practices across Ontario self-completed the 10-item Medication Risk
Questionnaire (MRQ).
Results
Surveys were completed by 907 patients, with a mean age of 72.4 (SD 10.7) years and a mean number of
4.8 medical conditions (SD 2.3; min-max: 0-14). Many subjects were taking multiple medications (mean
6.9 (SD 3.8; min-max: 0-21)) and over 90% of respondents reported at least one indicator that potentially increases their risk of drug-related morbidity.
Conclusion
Number of medications, number of medical conditions and number of daily medication doses were the most frequently observed risks for medication-related issues in this large sample of elderly patients visiting family medicine clinics.
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