Johanna Jyrkkä, Jasmin Paulamäki, Sirpa Hartikainen, Jouni Ahonen, Riitta Antikainen, Hanna-Mari Jauhonen, Esa Jämsen, Anniina Kössi, Jouko Laurila, Hanna-Maria Roitto, Riikka Söderling, Miia Tiihonen, Risto Huupponen
{"title":"Prescribing Appropriate Medicines to Older Adults: A Finnish Experience with the Web-Based Meds75+ Database.","authors":"Johanna Jyrkkä, Jasmin Paulamäki, Sirpa Hartikainen, Jouni Ahonen, Riitta Antikainen, Hanna-Mari Jauhonen, Esa Jämsen, Anniina Kössi, Jouko Laurila, Hanna-Maria Roitto, Riikka Söderling, Miia Tiihonen, Risto Huupponen","doi":"10.1007/s40266-024-01131-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Finnish web-based Meds75+ database supports rational, safe and appropriate prescribing to older adults in primary care. This article describes the content and updating process of Meds75+ and demonstrates its applicability in everyday clinical practice. Meds75+ contains a classification (A-D) and recommendation texts for 450-500 drug substances when used in the treatment of older adults aged 75 years or older. The content of Meds75+ is continually updated. Each assessment of a drug substance begins with a structured collection of available information and research evidence. After that, an interdisciplinary expert panel discusses the classification and recommendation using a consensus method. A rolling 3-year updating cycle guarantees that all drug substances are reviewed regularly. Most drug substances are classified as class A (41%) (suitable, e.g. bisoprolol) or as class C (37%) (suitable with specific precautions, e.g. ibuprofen). One-fifth (20%) of the substances are in class D (avoid use, e.g. diazepam). Most commonly, older adults have purchased substances affecting the alimentary tract and metabolism (17%), the nervous system (16%) and the cardiovascular system (15%). In Finland, the proportion of older adults using class D substances (37%) has not changed between the years 2019 and 2022. Meds75+ has potential to support safer and more effective use of medications for older adults, since it offers up-to-date information on drug substances for healthcare professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":11489,"journal":{"name":"Drugs & Aging","volume":" ","pages":"665-674"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11322211/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Drugs & Aging","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-024-01131-y","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/7/31 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Finnish web-based Meds75+ database supports rational, safe and appropriate prescribing to older adults in primary care. This article describes the content and updating process of Meds75+ and demonstrates its applicability in everyday clinical practice. Meds75+ contains a classification (A-D) and recommendation texts for 450-500 drug substances when used in the treatment of older adults aged 75 years or older. The content of Meds75+ is continually updated. Each assessment of a drug substance begins with a structured collection of available information and research evidence. After that, an interdisciplinary expert panel discusses the classification and recommendation using a consensus method. A rolling 3-year updating cycle guarantees that all drug substances are reviewed regularly. Most drug substances are classified as class A (41%) (suitable, e.g. bisoprolol) or as class C (37%) (suitable with specific precautions, e.g. ibuprofen). One-fifth (20%) of the substances are in class D (avoid use, e.g. diazepam). Most commonly, older adults have purchased substances affecting the alimentary tract and metabolism (17%), the nervous system (16%) and the cardiovascular system (15%). In Finland, the proportion of older adults using class D substances (37%) has not changed between the years 2019 and 2022. Meds75+ has potential to support safer and more effective use of medications for older adults, since it offers up-to-date information on drug substances for healthcare professionals.
期刊介绍:
Drugs & Aging delivers essential information on the most important aspects of drug therapy to professionals involved in the care of the elderly.
The journal addresses in a timely way the major issues relating to drug therapy in older adults including: the management of specific diseases, particularly those associated with aging, age-related physiological changes impacting drug therapy, drug utilization and prescribing in the elderly, polypharmacy and drug interactions.