Clinical trials in elderly patients.
The increasing size of the elderly population means that both the relative and absolute numbers of prescriptions for elderly patients are increasing. Depending on the age group, between 60% and 80% of elderly people are taking medication, and between 20% and 30% are taking at least three drugs. Prescribing for elderly patients as opposed to younger patients is thus ever more important. This has inevitably meant that the drug development process must increasingly recognise the importance of identifying and developing therapeutic targets relevant to older patients. Clearly, the scientific ethical and regulatory principles that determine conduct of clinical trials in younger individuals apply equally to older people. In addition, the development of drugs to be used in older patients requires an awareness of a number of physiological, pathophysiological and sociological considerations.
Jackson
S H D
SH
Department of Clinical Gerontology, King's College Hospital, London, UK. Stephen.Jackson@kcl.ac.uk
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012107:Research Design