OBJECTIVES : To evaluate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication in elderly inpatients with diabetes mellitus and other associated comorbidities.

METHODS : A cross-sectional study was carried out for 6 months in a tertiary care teaching hospital after taking approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Elderly inpatients with diabetes mellitus aged > 65years were included in the study. PIMs were identified according to the American Geriatric Society’s updated Beers criteria 2019. The analysis was performed, and the chi-square test was used where appropriate

RESULTS : A total of 150 patients were included in the study, out of which 82 (54.7%) elderly inpatients were male. The median age of the patient was 65 years, and the median number of diagnoses was 4. They had received an average of 9 medications per day during their hospital stay. 111 (74%) elderly inpatients with diabetes mellitus were prescribed with at least one PIM. Use of Proton pump inhibitor for more than 8 weeks and Short-acting insulin use according to sliding scale method were the most commonly prescribed PIMs among elderly inpatients.

CONCLUSIONS : The increased prevalence of PIMs in elderly inpatients are the new pharmacotherapeutic issues rising in India due to a lack of awareness regarding PIMs among the physicians and health care professionals. So, that justified health can be provided to elderly patients with an enhanced quality of life.