Evolution of drug prescription pattern in elderly: Retrolective study in a general hospital center in France

Background. - Collaboration between general practitioners and hospital clinicians remains a major challenge for the healthcare system. Objective. - The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of drug prescription after an hospital stay in geriatric rehabilitation department of Bagneres-de-Bigorre hospital center, over a one year period. Method. - Quantitative and qualitative analysis of drug prescriptions for patients during their hospital admission and followed up at 6 and 12 months after their discharge. Results. - A total of 50 patients were included with a mean age of 88.9 (+/- 7.5). The average number of drug per patient decreased from (8.5 +/- 3) at hospital admission to 6.7 (+/- 2.8) after discharge and maintained during 6 months (6.8 +/- 2.7) and 12 months (6.9 +/- 2.9). The number of patients taking more than 10 drugs decreased by 15% (n = 16 [33%] at hospital admission and n= 9 [18%] at hospital discharge), re-increased during the follow-up period (n= 10; [21%] and n = 13 [27%] respectively 6 and 12 months after discharge) but did not reach the baseline ratio. The qualitative analysis also shows an improvement of the prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) [-3%] concerning mainly drugs with high atropinic burden (-20% at hospital discharge, -12% at 6 months and -18% at 12 months). Conclusion. - According to the indicators of our study, general practitioners followed, both quantitatively and qualitatively, modifications of drug prescriptions performed during hospitalization in patients over 65, in a short (6 months) and medium delay (12 months). (C) 2019 Societe francaise de pharmacologie et de therapeutique. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.