Abstract Body

Background and purpose: Nursing home residents often have high prevalence of chronic diseases resulting in polypharmacy. Inappropriate drug use is very common among elderly patients and may cause worsened cognitive impairment, increased risk of falls, decreased quality of life, hospitalization and even death. Our aim was to detect if in nursing home residents were prescribed inappropriate drugs according to STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions) criteria in sections D (Medication related to Central Nervous System and Psychotropics ) and K (Medication that predictably increase the risk of falls in the elderly).

Methods: 27 nursing home residents from a portuguese institution, aged over 65, average age of 83,93 (minimum 66, maximum 96), 23 female and 4 male, were included. The files of the subjects were surveyed retrospectively for the 1-year before, using the nursing home digital medical records, including regular medication.

Results: We detected 21 cases of inappropriate drug use related to Central Nervous System and Psychotropics being quetiapine and risperidone the most prevalent psychotropic drugs , 9 cases of benzodiazepine use and in 7 residents combination of different classes of neuroleptics. There were 33 cases of inappropriate medication that predictably could increase the risk of falls in the elderly.

Conclusions: We found a significant amount of residents with inappropriate drug use in this nursing home. This study proves there is still a need for awareness of physicians on this topic. The use of STOPP criteria as a tool for prevention drug interactions, and avoidance of side effects in the elders should be widespread.