The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7394 p375
1 April 2006

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Model to help decide best medicines for elderly patients

Decisions about medicines use in elderly patients may benefit from a model of appropriate prescribing late in life published this week (Archives of Internal Medicine 2006;166:605).

The model considers how the time until benefit from treatment and individuals’ goals of care, treatment targets and life expectancy affect which medicines are appropriate for them. Previous guidelines have, the authors argue, defined inappropriate medicines to be avoided, rather than when to discontinue otherwise appropriate medicines. The model could help the development of guidelines to reduce polypharmacy in older patients with limited life expectancy, the authors say.