[Prescribing of antihypertensive drugs to elderly residents of nursing homes in Germany].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse and evaluate the use of antihypertensive medication in elderly patients of nursing homes in Germany.


METHODS
Data from a large German health insurance company were collected in a cross sectional study. Included were all insured persons aged 65 years or older, who were residents of a nursing home between 1 April and 30 June 2007 throughout Germany. Antihypertensive drugs were those classified according to the current guidelines published by the German Hypertension Society.


RESULTS
The study comprised 8,685 residents of nursing homes, 84 % women. The mean age was 84 years (range 65 - 106 years). Antihypertensive drug prescriptions accounted for 17 % of all drug prescriptions and about 70 % of all residents received at least one prescription for antihypertensive drugs. The most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drugs were diuretics, of which 70 % were loop diuretics. Potentially inappropriate combinations of antihypertensive drugs were noted in 5.2 % of patients receiving these drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Antihypertensive drugs account for a notable part (17 %) of all drug prescriptions in elderly residents of nursing homes throughout Germany. These results indicate that only a minority of all residents were treated with potentially inappropriate or potentially harmful drug combinations. However, the relatively high rate of prescriptions for loop diuretics is a matter of potential concern in this vulnerable group of patients.
Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
M
M
Kölzsch
J
J
Bolbrinker
D
D
Dräger
J
J
Scholze
M
M
Huber
R
R
Kreutz
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049994:Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D049994:Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors