Elderly in nursing homes 'given inappropriate drugs'
Seven out of 10 older people in nursing homes across Ireland are getting at least one inappropriately-prescribed medicine, it was claimed today.
A cross-border study showed the cost of giving elderly patients the wrong drugs was about €356 in Ireland – more than half the €170 it costs in the North.
Lead researcher Dr Stephen Byrne said inappropriate prescribing was a global problem which can lead to both minor and serious adverse drug events for older people.
“One of the most common instances is the risk of falls and fractures, leading to extended hospitalisation,” he added.
The survey of 630 residents in long-term care in the North and Cork was funded by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CardiI). It found:
* Nearly one fifth – 19% – of the sample were receiving three or more potentially inappropriate medicines;
* 73% of residents in Ireland were receiving at least one potentially inappropriate medicine;
|* The figure dropped to 67% for those being cared for in the North;
* Each was taking an average of 11 medicines – with half prescribed 8-14 daily medicines and some prescribed up to 26.
The study, which revealed the main drug involved was the sedative benzodiazepine, concluded inappropriate prescribing was a major area of concern and was a substantial burden to health services.
But the document also warned the findings could not generalise long-term care facilities across the country due to the small sample size used in the study.
Age Action called Health Minister Dr James Reilly to take immediate action.
Spokesman Eamon Timmins said: “The implications of these findings are very serious for the potential threat posed for older people’s health, as well as the huge sums being paid by the State for medications which are not only not needed, but which may in fact be damaging people’s health.
“Those with responsibility for the regulation and training of health professionals must address this problem and ensure adequate models of care are in place, as a matter of urgency.”
Dr Byrne, of University College Cork, called on the administrations in Ireland, north and south, to make a valuable contribution to World Health Day tomorrow by announcing decisive action to reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing.
“This could include protocol driven medication reviews to ensure that pharmacists, GPs, consultants and nurses work closely with one another and with older people and their relatives to ensure patients receive the medicines they need,” he added.
A total of 315 residents over 65 were randomly selected from 14 nursing homes from Co Cork for the study, where age and gender matched with 315 residents from a Northern Irish nursing home dataset.
Dr Roger O’Sullivan, director of Cardi, said it had come up with unambiguous findings on a subject of great importance for older people.
