title: Inappropriate prescribing for older people admitted to an intermediate-care nursing home unit and hospital wards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify inappropriate prescribing among older patients on admission to and discharge from an intermediate-care nursing home unit and hospital wards, and to compare changes during stay within and between these groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether 400 community-dwelling people aged ≥ 70 years, on consecutive emergency admittance to hospital wards of internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery, were randomized to an intermediate-care nursing home unit or hospital wards; 290 (157 at the intermediate-care nursing home unit and 133 in hospital wards) were eligible for this sub-study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence on admission and discharge of potentially inappropriate medications (Norwegian general practice [NORGEP] criteria) and drug-drug interactions; changes during stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) age was 84.7 (6.2) years; 71% were women. From admission to discharge, the mean numbers of drugs prescribed per person increased from 6.0 (3.3) to 9.3 (3.8), p < 0.01. The prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications increased from 24% to 35%, p < 0.01; concomitant use of ≥ 3 psychotropic/opioid drugs and drug combinations including non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increased significantly. Serious drug-drug interactions were scarce both on admission and discharge (0.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inappropriate prescribing was prevalent among older people acutely admitted to hospital, and the prevalence was not reduced during stay at an intermediate-care nursing home unit specially designed for these patients.
authors: Kavli Research Centre for Ageing and Dementia, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Marit.Bakken@isf.uib.no
authors: Marit Stordal
authors: MS
authors: Bakken
authors: Anette Hylen
authors: AH
authors: Ranhoff
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Engeland
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Ruths
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data