Prevalence and predictors of potentially inappropriate medications among home care elderly patients in Qatar

Background Older patients receiving home health care are particularly at risk of receiving potentially inappropriate medications compared to community-dwelling population. Data on appropriateness of prescribing in these patients is limited. Objective To investigate the prevalence, patterns and determinants of potentially inappropriate medications among elderly patients receiving Home Health Care Services in Qatar. Setting Home Health Care Services department in Hamad Medical Corporation-Qatar. Methods A cross-sectional study, conducted over a 3 months period. Patients 65 years and older, taking at least one medication and receiving home care services were included. Potentially inappropriate medications were identified and classified in accordance with the American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria. Main outcome measure Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications using updated Beers criteria. Results A total of 191 patients (38.2 %) had at least one potentially inappropriate medication. As per Beers criteria, 35 % of medications were classified as medications to be avoided in older adults regardless of conditions and 9 % as potentially inappropriate medications when used with certain diseases or syndromes. The majority of potentially inappropriate medications (56 %) were classified as medications to be used with caution. The two leading classes of potentially inappropriate medications were antipsychotics (27.4 %) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (16 %). Significant predictors of inappropriate prescribing were hypertension [adjusted OR 1.7; 95 % CI (1.0, 2.8)], dementia [adjusted OR 2.0; 95 % CI (1.2, 3.1)], depression [adjusted OR 21.6; 95 % CI (2.8, 168.4)], and taking more than ten prescribed medications [adjusted OR 1.9; 95 % CI (1.3, 2.8)]. Conclusion Prescribing potentially inappropriate medications is common among older adults receiving home health care services in Qatar, a finding that warrants further attention. Polypharmacy, hypertension, depression and dementia were significantly associated with potentially inappropriate prescribing.