title: Use of potentially inappropriate medications in an ambulatory Medicare population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use by applying the Beers criteria in an ambulatory population of Medicare beneficiaries, and to identify the most common PIMs/PIM classes taken by this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine community outreach events throughout central and northern California.
  
  
  METHODS
  295 ambulatory Medicare beneficiaries (65 to 98 years of age).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacy students, under the supervision of licensed pharmacists, assisted beneficiaries with Medicare Part D plan enrollment and medication review, including identification of PIMs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of PIMs taken by beneficiaries and the most frequent PIMs/PIM classes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  54 (18.3%) beneficiaries were taking at least one PIM. The most common PIMs taken by the study group were alprazolam, clonidine, and estrogen. The two most common classes of such medications were benzodiazepines and antiarrhythmics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many older adults continue to receive medications that should be avoided because of limited effectiveness and/or potential for harm. Prescribers and pharmacists must be diligent in ensuring that medications given to older adults are necessary and appropriate. Outreach events targeting seniors provide an ideal forum to identify and address such issues.
authors.affiliation: University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Stockton, California.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woelfel
authors.forename: Rajul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Walberg
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amaral
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D054524:Medicare Part D / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D014481:United States