Aim To investigate the association between the prevalence and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribed to elderly patients in Japan. Method A retrospective data analysis was performed using an extensive dispensing prescription database constructed by a database vendor in October 2016. PIMs are drugs that the patients on the screening tool for older persons’ appropriate prescriptions for Japanese (STOPP-J) list no longer require. The STOPP-J list consists of 210 ingredients; 136 were identified after screening. For each of the three age groups (65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years), the number of drugs per patient and the number of patients whose prescription included at least one ingredient of PIMs (PIMs (+)) were investigated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with PIMs (+). Results A total of 508,518 patients, 635,312 prescriptions, and 2,147,960 drugs were identified as the target patient group. The median numbers of drugs per patient were 3, 4, and 5 in the 65-74 years, 75-84 years, and ≥85 years age groups, respectively. Sex (female), number of drugs, central nervous system agents, digestive organ agents, urogenital and anal organ agents, and other agents affecting metabolism were associated with PIMs (+). Aging was not associated with PIMs (+). Conclusion Multiple medications have been associated with PIMs, but not with aging. Attention should be paid to PIMs in elderly patients with prescriptions that include central nervous system agents, digestive organ agents, urogenital and anal organ agents, and other agents affecting metabolism.
馬渕 et al. (Mon,) studied this question.