title: A database analysis of potentially inappropriate drug use in an elderly medicaid population.
abstract: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective review of 1996 Kentucky Medicaid Pharmacy claims data to examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug use in 64,832 Medicaid recipients aged 65 years and older who received a prescription. Twenty-seven percent of patients received at least one potentially inappropriate agent. Prevalence was higher for nursing home residents (33%) than for community dwellers (24%). Amitriptyline (7.6%), propoxyphene (6.5%), doxepin (4.0%), and indomethacin (2.3%) were the most prescribed potentially inappropriate agents. Education programs and interventions aimed at optimizing the prescribing and dispensing of the most appropriate drugs are needed.
authors.affiliation: Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Mason, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Piecoro
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ranz
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Scutchfield
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States