Geriatric Population at Greater Risk for Medication Errors
The geriatric population is growing rapidly. Although currently composing 12 percent of the population, seniors use 30 percent of prescription drugs, thus increasing the risk of medication errors among this population.
The predisposition of aging to concomitant diseases, physiological changes, decreased hepatic and renal function, and multiple health care providers, as well as the possibility of cognitive change, have led to several studies in relationship to medication errors. Highlights of two studies among large geriatric populations are below.
JAMA study
A March 5, 2003, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) discussed a study that involved 30,397 ambulatory Medicare enrollees in a multispecialty practice. There were 1,523 adverse drug events identified and 10.2 percent were the result of anticoagulant drugs.
The most common errors associated with preventable adverse drug events:
- Occurred at the prescribing stage (58.4 percent)
- Occurred at the monitoring stage (60.8 percent)
- Involved patient adherence (21.1 percent)
JCAHO study
An article in the April 2005 issue of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ (JCAHO) Journal on Quality and Patient Safety focused on drug errors reported to the United States Pharmacopeia’s national medication error program from Jan. 1, 2002, to Dec. 31, 2003. Of the reported errors, 40 percent occurred in the geriatric population.
Among the geriatric population, Heparin was responsible for 12 percent of improper dose quantity related errors and 4 percent of wrong drug errors. Warfarin was responsible for 4 percent of dose quantity related errors and 4.5 percent of wrong drug errors.
The most frequent causes contributing to the errors included:
- Performance deficit (48 percent)
- Procedure/protocol not followed (30 percent)
- Communication (18 percent)
- Knowledge deficit (17 percent)
Resources
Physicians can obtain “Foods Containing Vitamin K Checklist” to help patients know which foods to restrict by calling (800) 228-7823, ext. 1450.
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Last Updated: 1/18/2008