Introduction:

Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is increasingly a significant subject of study due to its negative consequences in vulnerable patients.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of PIM and drug interactions in the elderly population followed by home care teams in their last twelve months of life.

Material and Methods:

Quantitative, descriptive, retrospective, and observational study. Identification of PIM, using the STOPPFrail criteria, in the last twelve months of life of people with ≥ 65 years old under follow up by community palliative care teams in the Azores islands, and who died between January 2016 and December 2018.

Results:

One hundred and thirty-seven patients were included, 72 of whom were men (52.55%), with a median age of 78 years (interquartile range 73-84). The prevalence of PIM was 90.51% (n=124), with frequent prescription of medication without any clear clinical evidence of 51.09% (n=70) and proton pump inhibitors of 45.99% (n=63). A total of 1,107 drug interactions were accounted for in 120 patients (87.59%). PIM was involved in the interactions of 98 patients (71.53%) and in 473 of the clinically significant drug interactions (46.79%).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of PIM is high in the elderly in the last 12 months of life. The use of the STOPPFrail criteria may help to identify PIM and outline a plan for its reduction, preferably in an interdisciplinary working context.

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