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Evaluation of the heterogeneity of studies estimating the association between risk factors and the use of potentially inappropriate drug therapy for the elderly: a systematic review with meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to evaluate the heterogeneity of studies estimating the association between risk factors (age, gender, and polypharmacy) and the use of potentially inappropriate drug therapy for the elderly (PIDT).

Methodology

This study is a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies. LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science databases were reviewed. The following data were extracted from the included studies: country, type of study, characteristics of the sample, practice scenarios, instruments to evaluate potentially inappropriate drug therapy for the older adults, and patient-related variables.

Results

Twenty-nine articles (17 cross-sectional and 12 cohort) were included. The majority of the studies were conducted in Europe. Regarding the study durations, 3 to 18 months was necessary to perform the research. As for the sample characteristics, all the studies analyzed involved the older adults and included anywhere from 96 patients to 33,830,599 outpatient consultations. Of the variables analyzed, only polypharmacy presented a positive association with the use of PIDT. All meta-analysis studies showed high heterogeneity, indicating the lack of a methodological standardization of the studies included, among other factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Teaching and Research in Social Pharmacy (LEPFS), Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Cidade Universitária ‘Prof. José Aloísio Campos’, Jardim Rosa Elze, São Cristóvão, CEP: 49100-000, Brazil

    Ana Patrícia A. L. Santos, Daniel Tenório da Silva, Genival Araujo dos Santos Júnior, Carina Carvalho Silvestre, Divaldo Pereira Lyra Jr. & Angelo Roberto Antoniolli

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil

    Marco Antônio Prado Nunes

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  1. Ana Patrícia A. L. Santos
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  2. Daniel Tenório da Silva
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  3. Genival Araujo dos Santos Júnior
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  4. Carina Carvalho Silvestre
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  5. Marco Antônio Prado Nunes
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  6. Divaldo Pereira Lyra Jr.
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Correspondence to Divaldo Pereira Lyra Jr..

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Santos, A.P.A.L., da Silva, D.T., dos Santos Júnior, G.A. et al. Evaluation of the heterogeneity of studies estimating the association between risk factors and the use of potentially inappropriate drug therapy for the elderly: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 71, 1037–1050 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-015-1891-2

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