title: Age-related prescribing patterns in general practice.
abstract: To examine differences in prescribing patterns in relation to patient age, all drugs dispensed during 1 week in a sample of community pharmacies were recorded. The mean number of drugs per prescription increased linearly from 1.5 in children aged 0-9 years to 2.8 in patients 80 years and over. The rate of prescribing of diuretics, benzodiazepines, non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents and drugs acting on the cardiovascular system increased markedly with advancing age. Drugs with a low therapeutic ratio were also prescribed more frequently for patients over 65 years. Psychotropic agents (15.9%), diuretics (13.8%) and cardiovascular drugs (13.7%) were the most commonly prescribed drugs in this age group. While a minority of elderly patients were prescribed a large number of drugs, prescribing rates overall did not appear excessive.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004077:Digoxin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004077:Digoxin