Inappropriate prescribing of antithrombotic therapy in Ethiopian elderly population using updated 2015 STOPP/START criteria: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Inappropriate use of antiplatelets and anticoagulants among elderly patients increases the risk of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of inappropriate prescribing of antithrombotic therapy in hospitalized elderly patients. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted at the Gondar University Hospital. A total of 156 hospitalized elderly patients fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria were included in the study. The Screening Tool for Older Person's Prescription/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria version 2 were applied to patients' data to identify the total number of inappropriate prescribing (IPs) including potentially inappropriate medications and potential prescribing omissions. RESULTS A total of 70 IPs were identified in 156 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 36 (51.4%) were identified as potentially inappropriate medications by the Screening Tool for Older Person's Prescription criteria. The prevalence of IP per patient indicated that 58 of the 156 (37.2%) patients were exposed to at least one IP. Of these, 32 (55.2%) had at least one potentially inappropriate medication and 33 (56.9%) had at least one potential prescribing omission. Patients hospitalized due to venous thromboembolism (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =29.87, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-708.6), stroke (AOR =7.74, 95% CI, 1.27-47.29), or acute coronary syndrome (AOR =13.48, 95% CI, 1.4-129.1) were less likely to be exposed to an IP. An increase in Charlson comorbidity index score was associated with increased IP exposure (AOR =0.60, 95% CI, 0.39-0.945). IPs were about six times more likely to absent in patients prescribed with antiplatelet only therapy (AOR =6.23, 95% CI, 1.90-20.37) than those receiving any other groups of antithrombotics. CONCLUSION IPs are less common in elderly patients primarily admitted due to venous thromboembolism, stroke, and acute coronary syndrome, and those elderly patients prescribed with only antiplatelet. Patients with higher Charlson comorbidity index were, however, associated with increased IPs exposure. Our study may guide further research to reduce high-risk prescription of antithrombotics in the elderly.