The percentage of Canada’s elderly population taking potentially harmful prescribed drugs went down from 34% in the 2000-2001 to 17% in 2005-2006, according to a new study carried out by CIHI (Canadian Institute for Health Information), called Drug Claims by Seniors: An Analysis Focusing on Potentially Inappropriate Use of Medications, 2000 to 2006. The analysis examines public drug program claims in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

The study focused on an internationally recognized list of potentially inappropriate drugs for seniors because of their higher adverse effects risk, called the Beers list. Dr. Mark Beers developed the list in 1991. The list includes such criteria as appropriate use of medication, risk of adverse events, effectiveness, and availability of safer alternatives.

Francine Anne Roy, Director of Health Resources Information, CIHI, said “Prescription drug therapy is a very important component of health care delivery for the elderly in this country. As the Canadian population ages, a better understanding of any potentially inappropriate use of these drugs is essential.”

The top five Beers list drugs claimed are virtually the same in the Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick drug programs. According to the study, there was a fall in the chronic use of Beers list drugs in the four provinces. “Chronic” means a minimum of three prescriptions and 100 solid dosage units in one year.

Chronic use in 2000-2001 ranged from 27.5% in New Brunswick to 19.5% in Manitoba. In the year 2005-2006 the range was 18.8% in New Brunswick to 12.9% in Alberta, the report showed.

Michael Hunt, Manager of Pharmaceuticals, CIHI, said “Our analysis shows a decline in the overall use of drugs on the Beers list. This is not surprising considering increased awareness around the safety and benefits of some of these medications, including oral conjugated estrogens, used for hormone replacement therapy. On the other hand, the use of other drugs on the list appears to be increasing. The chronic use of amitriptyline, an antidepressant that carries high potential health risks, has increased over five years, making it the fastest-growing drug on the Beers list in terms of usage in all four provinces.”

In 2005-2006, the top five Beers drugs were (in the four provinces) were:

— Oral conjugated estrogens (hormone replacement)
— Amitriptyline (antidepressant)
— Digoxin (treatment for heart conditions)
— Oxybutynin (treatment for incontinence)
— Temazepam (treatment for sleep disorders)

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Written by: Christian Nordqvist