Evaluation of the Potentially Inappropriate Cardiovascular Medication Prescription in Elderly: A Nationwide Study in Turkey

BACKGROUND: Elderly comprises a specific group due to possible alterations in the effects of drugs and comorbidities. We aimed to identify for the first time the characteristics and rates regarding the inappropriate prescriptions of cardiovascular system medications in the geriatric age group in Turkey. METHODS: Cardiovascular system medications prescribed electronically by family physicians to patients aged 65 and over, in the years 2015 and 2016, were obtained through Prescription Information System administered by the Ministry of Health. Evaluation of potentially inappropriate prescriptions was done according to the “Beers Criteria 2015 update.” Prescription rates for each group were evaluated under sub-breakdowns for the specialty of family physicians, gender, age groups, and “Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics” regions. RESULTS: Approximately 65 million prescriptions were evaluated. The rate of potentially inappropriate cardiovascular medication prescribing was 0.33%. This raised to 11.56% when “drugs to be used with caution” were included. It was observed that potentially inappropriate drugs have been prescribed more by specialist family physicians. The most frequently prescribed potentially inappropriate drugs were doxazosin in the diagnosis of hypertension and methyldopa regardless of indication. Diclofenac-warfarin was the most commonly prescribed concomitant drug use in the potentially clinically important drug–drug interactions group. The rate of potentially inappropriate drug prescribing was higher in males and in aged 80 years and older. CONCLUSIONS: This pharmacoepidemiological study draws attention to potentially inappropriate cardiovascular system drugs prescribed in primary care settings to the elderly. The rate of potentially inappropriate cardiovascular system drug prescribed was found to be very low in Turkey.