Potentially inappropriate medication prescribing based on 2019 Beers criteria and the impact of pharmacist intervention in elderly patients with kidney diseases: A report from Iran

Abstract Background and Aims A potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is a pharmaceutical agent that poses a greater risk of harm than potential benefit to elderly patients. This study aimed to detect PIMs and their risk factors in hospitalized elderly patients with kidney disease. Methods This cross‐sectional study assessed medication orders of elderly patients (≥65 years old) with kidney diseases admitted to the hospital. In the first 6 months, we retrospectively evaluated all medications to identify PIMs according to the 2019 Beers criteria. In the second phase, a clinical pharmacist prospectively evaluated all medications and suggested modifications as needed. Data were analyzed to determine risk factors for prescribing PIMs. Results Based on our evaluation of 258 patients, we observed that the utilization of PIMs was prevalent among the study population. Of the total patients evaluated, 273 instances of PIM use were identified, with only 23.3% of patients not having any PIMs. Notably, proton pump inhibitors and benzodiazepines were the most frequently prescribed PIMs. The risk of experiencing a PIM was significantly amplified by a higher degree of polypharmacy, with odds approximately 2.68 times higher (p