The effects of hospital admission on drug prescribing in an elderly population.
307 consecutive patients admitted to our unit were studied. The reasons for altering patients' drug regimens were noted. The price difference between the patients' drugs on admission to those on discharge was calculated. While over 40% of drugs regimens on admission were unchanged on discharge some adjustments were made in the remainder. The most common reason for stopping a drug was that the hospital physician could find no indication for its use. A 30.3% reduction in price of discharge drugs compared with drugs on admission was achieved.
Sheehan
J
J
Geriatric Unit, University Hospital, Cork.
Reardon
M
M
Twomey
C
C
Hyland
M
M
D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D011446:Prospective Studies