OBJECTIVES

This report provides information on the number and types of drugs prescribed to seniors in the community and in long-term care facilities. It also examines the vulnerable populations at risk of polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use, by measuring inequalities according to sex, age, neighbourhood income and geographic location.

METHODS

Public drug claims data from all provinces, Yukon and one federal drug program (First Nations and Inuit Health Branch) were used to examine the number and types of drugs prescribed to seniors in Canada. Potentially inappropriate drug use was defined using the 2015 Beers criteria. Where possible, seniors were identified as living in the community or in a long-term care facility.

RESULTS

The number and types of drugs prescribed to seniors changed very little between 2011 and 2016. Approximately one-quarter of seniors used 10 or more drug classes in each year. Statins remained the most commonly used drug class among seniors.

Seniors living in low-income neighbourhoods and rural/remote areas were prescribed more drugs overall, and more potentially inappropriate drugs, as did women and older seniors.

The use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines decreased during the study period; which may be due in part to ongoing initiatives to reduce the use of these drugs in seniors. However, the use of proton pump inhibitors, which have also been the focus of such initiatives, has increased since 2011.

Results will be published in May 2018.

CONCLUSIONS

The need to reduce the number of drugs, number of potentially inappropriate drugs and adverse drug events among seniors is a topic of increasing concern. Some initiatives focused on improving prescribing have shown promising results; however, their overall impact on the number of drugs used has been minimal.