RESEARCHERS from the University of Western Australia have published clinical practice guidelines for deprescribing in older people, which aim to reduce unnecessary medicines and the risks that come with them.
Developed in collaboration with more than 70 experts and consumer representatives, the guidelines have been endorsed by peak bodies including the Australasian College of Pharmacy, Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), as well as the Royal Australian College of GPs.
They have been created in a context where 250,000 hospitalisations each year in Australia are linked to problems with medication.
Meanwhile, pharmacist-led medication reviews detect medicine-related issues in up to 98% of older people, often uncovering multiple problems per person.
“Many older Australians take multiple medicines, and what was once the right treatment may not always remain the best choice,” said lead author and pharmacist Amanda Quek from the University of Western Australia.
“Over time, health conditions, risks and personal goals can change, and for some, certain medicines may start to cause more harm than good.
While there are several lists of ‘potentially inappropriate medicines’ (PIMs lists) for older people, Quek explained that until now, there has been little clear guidance on how to safely stop many commonly used medicines in older people.
“These new deprescribing guidelines fill that gap, supporting health professionals and individuals in working together to decide when and how to safely reduce or stop medicines that are no longer needed or may be doing more harm than good,” Quek said.
The guidelines cover commonly used PBS-subsidised medications for people aged 65 and over, as well as other medications where there is evidence to consider deprescribing in this age group.
They also provide plain language summaries for consumers.
“They will help ensure medicines stay appropriate and aligned with a person’s current health needs, goals, and preferences, potentially reducing medication-related harm, improving quality of life and lowering the treatment burden for those living with multiple conditions,” Quek concluded.
Consult the guidelines HERE. KB
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