Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on the Beers criteria
Introduction : Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently present with multiple comorbidities and complex therapeutic regimens, increasing the risk of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescribing. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PIM prescribing in geriatric patients with T2DM using the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria. Materials and methods : This observational, retrospective study included 400 geriatric patients (≥65 years) with T2DM. Data on prescribed medications were collected from medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0 and Microsoft Excel 2019 ( α = 0.05). Results : At least one PIM was identified in 60.8% of patients. Frequently prescribed PIMs included proton pump inhibitors (13.5%), diazepam (10.3%), and digoxin (6.5%) among medications to be avoided, and diuretics (59.5%) and acetylsalicylic acid (19.0%) among medications to be used with caution. Conclusion : Systematic application of the Beers Criteria may improve pharmacotherapy safety in this vulnerable population.