Improving hospital prescribing practices may reduce risk of rehospitalization and death Two in three hospitalized seniors are prescribed drugs that should be avoided by older adults, increasing the risk of injury and adverse drug reactions. Improving hospital prescribing practices can reduce the frequency of inappropriate medications and resulting harm, according to a new study led...
Tag: <span>inappropriate prescribing</span>
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Lung cancer in non-smokers likely to respond differently to treatment
by Institute of Cancer Research Lung cancer in non-smokers is a diverse and distinct disease from that in smokers, and is likely to respond differently to targeted treatments, a major new study shows. Scientists studied a population in Taiwan with high rates of lung cancer among non-smokers—and found a range of genetic changes which varied...
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Electronic decision support tool reduces the risk of overmedication
by Johannes Angerer, Medical University of Vienna As the population ages, the prevalence of chronic disease increases. As a result, more drugs are prescribed. Around 25% of the population aged 65+ are affected by so-called “polypharmacy,” i.e., they regularly take at least five drugs. This results in an increased risk for drug interactions and adverse...
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Half of older patients exposed to potentially inappropriate prescribing
Around half of older patients are exposed to potentially inappropriate prescribing, each year, and hospitalisation is independently associated with an increased risk, finds a study in Ireland published by The BMJ today. Inappropriate prescribing can include the intensification of existing drugs and the failure to stop or reduce doses of certain drugs after discharge from...