[Prescribing of antihypertensive drugs to elderly residents of nursing homes in Germany]

Abstract

Objective: To analyse and evaluate the use of antihypertensive medication in elderly patients of nursing homes in Germany.

Methods: Data from a large German health insurance company were collected in a cross sectional study. Included were all insured persons aged 65 years or older, who were residents of a nursing home between 1 April and 30 June 2007 throughout Germany. Antihypertensive drugs were those classified according to the current guidelines published by the German Hypertension Society.

Results: The study comprised 8,685 residents of nursing homes, 84 % women. The mean age was 84 years (range 65 - 106 years). Antihypertensive drug prescriptions accounted for 17 % of all drug prescriptions and about 70 % of all residents received at least one prescription for antihypertensive drugs. The most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drugs were diuretics, of which 70 % were loop diuretics. Potentially inappropriate combinations of antihypertensive drugs were noted in 5.2 % of patients receiving these drugs.

Conclusion: Antihypertensive drugs account for a notable part (17 %) of all drug prescriptions in elderly residents of nursing homes throughout Germany. These results indicate that only a minority of all residents were treated with potentially inappropriate or potentially harmful drug combinations. However, the relatively high rate of prescriptions for loop diuretics is a matter of potential concern in this vulnerable group of patients.