The use of potentially inappropriate medication was also associated with higher hospital costs.
A higher risk of fracture-specific hospitalisations and mortality was associated with the initiation of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM), concludes a study published in the European Journal of Health Economics. Previous studies conducted in Europe have not investigated hospital costs associated with PIM use with as long a follow-up as this study.
PIMs are defined as medications whose potential risks are higher than their clinical benefits. In this study, PIMs were defined according to the Meds75+ database maintained by the Finnish Medicines Agency, Fimea.
The researchers used nationwide registers to follow over 20,000 community-dwelling people aged 65 or over between 2002 and 2013. Matching individuals were identified from the non-user group for those who purchased PIMs during the 12-year follow-up.
A PIM prescription always requires clinical grounds, which take account of the risks related to medication treatments. The Meds75+ database supports clinical decision-making on the pharmacotherapy of patients, and is available free of charge on Fimea’s website.
The study was carried out in cooperation between the University of Eastern Finland, Fimea and the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela.