title: [Polypharmacy to the elderly prevails].
abstract: The risk of chronic diseases increases with age which may result in an increased need for pharmacological treatment: polypharmacy. Polypharmacy to the elderly is particularly challenging due to altered pharmacokinetics and -dynamics, and is associated with numerous problems such as poor compliance/adherence, drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, increased mortality and hospitalization. Beers criteria and STOPP/START criteria are tools which can be used as guidance in medication of the elderly, but they cannot replace a structured medical review, which should be individualized.
authors: Klinisk Farmakologisk Afdeling. Aarhus Universitetshospital, Vilhelm Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C. tl@biomed.au.dk.
authors: Aska
authors: A
authors: Drljevic-Nielsen
authors: Torben
authors: T
authors: Laursen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D059065:Medication Reconciliation; D019338:Polypharmacy