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  • Title: Frequency of medication errors in primary care patients with polypharmacy.
    Author: Koper D, Kamenski G, Flamm M, Böhmdorfer B, Sönnichsen A.
    Journal: Fam Pract; 2013 Jun; 30(3):313-9. PubMed ID: 23132894.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases affect more than half of the population ≥75 years of age in developed countries. Prescription medication use increases with age. Depending on definition, 25-80% of elderly are exposed to polypharmacy. Polypharmacy increases the risk of hospitalization, interactions and adverse drug reactions. OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency of medication errors in patients with polypharmacy treated in general practice. METHODS: The medications of 169 patients with polypharmacy treated in 22 GP surgeries in Austria were analysed. The analysis identified (i) medication errors, including non-evidence-based medications, dosing errors and potentially dangerous interactions in all patients and (ii) potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in the subgroup of elderly patients (≥65 years). RESULTS: The patients took on average 9.1±3.0 medications per day. The maximum, in one patient, was 20 medications per day. Some 93.5% had at least one non-evidence-based medication. On average, 2.7±1.66 medications per patient were found to be not indicated. At least one dosing error was found in 56.2% of all patients. One potential interaction of the most severe degree (category X interaction) was detected in 1.8% (n = 3) and two such interactions in 0.6% (n = 1). These combinations should have been avoided. Of the 169 patients, 158 were elderly (≥65 years). Of these seniors, 37.3% (n = 59) had at least one PIM according to the PRISCUS list for the elderly. CONCLUSION: The frequency of medication errors is high in patients with polypharmacy in primary care. Development of strategies (e.g. external medication review) is required to counteract medication errors.
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