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Trends in Drug Duplications in Swedish Older Adults: A Nationwide Register Study from 2006 to 2021.
- Source :
-
Drugs & Aging . Sep2024, Vol. 41 Issue 9, p775-781. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Drug duplication (DD), the use of two identical drugs simultaneously, is a medication error increasing the risk of adverse drug events. We describe the trends and implicated drugs in potential DD in older adults in Sweden from 2006 to 2021. Methods: We conducted a register-based, repeated cross-sectional study of all older adults (aged ≥65 years) dispensed drugs at a community pharmacy in 2006–2021. DD was defined as a ≥30-day overlap of two dispensations of drugs with the same 5th level (chemical substance) Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification, but with different brand names, within a 3-month period each year. Results: Among Swedish older adults with ordinary prescriptions (i.e. multidose excluded; n ≈ 1,200,000–1,600,000 per year), the prevalence of potential DD increased from 5.2% to 10.6% in 65- to 79-year-olds and from 7.0% to 11.7% in those aged ≥80 years. The drug groups (ATC level 3; pharmacological subgroup) most frequently implicated in DD in 2006 were β-blocking agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers, and in 2021 Vitamin B12 and folic acid, β-blocking agents and angiotensin II receptor blockers. Conclusions: DD represents a common but unnecessary and potentially hazardous medication error. Our results indicate that during the last two decades, the prevalence has almost doubled in older adults with ordinary prescriptions, reaching 11% in 2021. More national efforts are needed to revert this trend, including a nationally available complete drug list for all patients, and prescriber support to detect DD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1170229X
- Volume :
- 41
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Drugs & Aging
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 179690684
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-024-01145-6