title: The prevalence of polypharmacy in elderly attenders to an emergency department - a problem with a need for an effective solution.
abstract: We studied the prevalence of polypharmacy in attenders aged 75 years and over to an emergency department (ED) in North London over a period of 1 month. We identified 467 patients in this age group. Analysis of medications being prescribed revealed at least 82 patients on medication with the potential for adverse interaction. There is a need for ED-initiated strategies to identify interactions and for pathways to allow for medication review.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Chase Farm Hospital, The Ridgeway, Enfield EN 8JL, Middlesex, UK. libra19542003@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Ashis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mbamalu
authors.forename: Sayed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Arshad Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Toong Foo
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chan