Association of Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use with Adverse Outcomes in Ambulatory Elderly Patients with Chronic Diseases

Abstract

BackgroundPotentially inappropriate medication use among the elderly in an outpatient setting has been widely reported. However, the potential association between inappropriate medication use and adverse outcomes is seldom examined.ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence, risk factors for and adverse outcomes of potentially inappropriate medication use in ambulatory elderly patients with chronic diseases.MethodsData for this observational cohort study consisted of computerized claims from a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan to the Bureau of National Health Insurance. Consecutive ambulatory elderly patients aged ≥65 years who received long-term (3-month) prescriptions for treatment of a chronic ..