PIM, n(%) | ||
Admission | Discharge | |
A. Cardiovascular system | 9 (22.5%) | 4 (14.8%) |
Digoxin at a long-term dose >125 µg/day with impaired renal function | 1 | 0 |
Thiazide diuretic agent with a history of gout | 1 | 1 |
β-Blocker in combination with verapamil | 1 | 0 |
Calcium channel blockers with chronic constipation | 2 | 3 |
Aspirin at dose >150 mg/day | 3 | 0 |
Warfarin for first, uncomplicated deep venous thrombosis longer than 6 months' duration | 1 | 0 |
B. Central nervous system and psychotropic drugs | 4 (10.0%) | 5 (18.5%) |
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) with constipation | 0 | 1 |
TCAs with an opiate or calcium channel blocker | 2 | 1 |
Long-term (ie, >1 month), longacting benzodiazepines—eg, chlordiazepoxide, fluazepam, nitrazepam, chlorazepate and benzodiazepines with longacting metabolites, e.g. diazepam | 2 | 0 |
Long-term neuroleptic agents (>1 month) in those with parkinsonism | 0 | 3 |
C. Gastrointestinal system | 1 (2.5%) | 0 |
Prochlorperazine (Stemetil) or metoclopramide with parkinsonism | 1 | 0 |
D. Respiratory system | 4 (10.0%) | 1 (3.7%) |
Nebulised ipratropium with glaucoma | 4 | 1 |
E. Musculoskeletal system | 5 (12.5%) | 0 |
NSAID with moderate-to-severe hypertension | 2 | 0 |
NSAID with heart failure | 1 | 0 |
Warfarin and NSAID together | 1 | 0 |
NSAID with chronic renal failure | 1 | 0 |
F. Urogenital system | 8 (20.0%) | 8 (28.6%) |
α-Blockers in men with frequent incontinence—ie, one or more episodes of incontinence daily | 6 | 4 |
α-Blockers with long-term urinary catheter in situ—ie, >2 months | 2 | 4 |
H. Drugs that adversely affect fallers | 3 (7.5%) | 9 (32.1%) |
Benzodiazepines | 1 | 6 |
Neuroleptic drugs | 2 | 2 |
Long-term opiates in those with recurrent falls | 0 | 1 |
J. Duplicate drug classes | 6 (15.0%) | 1 (3.7%) |
Any duplicate drug class prescription—eg, two concurrent opiates, NSAIDs, SSRIs, loop diuretics, ACE inhibitors | 6 | 1 |
ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, PIM, potentially inappropriate medications; SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.