Abstract

Objective

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) use is a common phenomenon among older adults. This paper aimed to perform a systematic literature review to assess PIMs use and related costs among elderly persons.

Methods

This study was a systematic review. PubMed, Scopus, and the Institute for Scientific Information engines were used to search for all relevant studies published until 2020. Studies were excluded if they did not estimate the cost of PIMs for the elderly. In addition, non-English articles, editorials, letters, and review articles were excluded. All eligible articles were assessed for methodological quality. Finally, we extracted general characteristics from each eligible study.

Results

This study showed that the prevalence of PIMs use among older adults was more than 30%. Drugs related to the central nervous system and cardiovascular disease, benzodiazepines, analgesics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were most commonly used as PIMs. These studies concluded that PIMs could impose a high economic burden on the elderly and society. The mean cost for older adults with PIMs use was almost USD$2000 more than the mean cost for older adults without PIMs. Additionally, the total cost of PIMs use for all elderly persons in Canada in 2013 was estimated at USD$419 million.

Conclusions

Focusing on the most common PIMs, such as benzodiazepines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, helps implementing cost-effective strategies for reducing PIMs use and decreasing their clinical and economic effects.