Original Report

Inappropriate prescriptions for the aging population of the United States: an analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1997

  1. Boji Huang1,*,
  2. Kenneth A. Bachmann1,
  3. Xuming He2,
  4. Randi Chen3,
  5. Jennifer S. McAllister4,
  6. Tongtong Wang1

Article first published online: 5 APR 2002

DOI: 10.1002/pds.688

Issue

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Volume 11, Issue 2, pages 127–134, March 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Huang, B., Bachmann, K. A., He, X., Chen, R., McAllister, J. S. and Wang, T. (2002), Inappropriate prescriptions for the aging population of the United States: an analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1997. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 11: 127–134. doi: 10.1002/pds.688

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Toledo College of Pharmacy, Toledo, OH, USA

  2. 2

    University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA

  3. 3

    Pacific Health Research Institute, Hawaii, USA

  4. 4

    University of Texas School of Public Health

*Department of Pharmacology, University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy, 2801 West Bancroft St. BO2009D, Toledo, OH 43606, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 5 APR 2002
  2. Article first published online: 5 APR 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 18 DEC 2001
  4. Manuscript Revised: 13 DEC 2001
  5. Manuscript Received: 2 MAY 2001

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Keywords:

  • elderly patients;
  • National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey;
  • polypharmacy;
  • inappropriate prescriptions

Abstract

Purpose

Generally, elderly patients in the United States tend to consume more prescriptions than younger adults. The purpose of the study is to examine nationwide prescription patterns for elderly patients who visited physicians' offices in 1997.

Methods

The database of a nationwide sample survey of practicing physicians participating in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1997 was used. Inappropriate medicines for the elderly were identified using previously published and widely accepted criteria.

Results

During 1997, patients aged 65 years or older made more than 191 million visits to physicians' offices in the United States. Four or more prescriptions per visit were issued with the following frequencies: 17.7% for females; 16.4% for males; 17.0% for Whites, 22.7% for Blacks, and 6.1% for other minorities including American Asians, Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and Pacific Islanders. The frequencies with which at least one inappropriate medication per visit was prescribed were: 10.8% for females; 8.9% for males; 10.3% for Whites; 9.7% for Blacks; and 1.9% for other minorities.

Discussion

Four or more prescriptions issued per visit and inappropriate prescriptions for the elderly in the United States were evident, and may put a vulnerable aging population at risk of adverse drug events. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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