Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, P.Le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona, Italy.
Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024 Mar 8;36(1):63. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02679-2.
Recent medical advancements have increased life expectancy, leading to a surge in patients affected by multiple chronic diseases and consequent polypharmacy, especially among older adults. This scenario increases the risk of drug interactions and adverse drug reactions, highlighting the need for medication review and deprescribing to reduce inappropriate medications and optimize therapeutic regimens, with the ultimate goal to improving patients' health and quality of life. This position statement from the Italian Scientific Consortium on medication review and deprescribing aims to describe key elements, strategies, tools, timing, and healthcare professionals to be involved, for the implementation of medication review and deprescribing in different healthcare settings (i.e., primary care, hospital, long-term care facilities, and palliative care). Challenges and potential solutions for the implementation of medication review and deprescribing are also discussed.
近年来,医学的进步延长了人类的预期寿命,导致患有多种慢性疾病的患者人数激增,继而需要使用多种药物治疗,这种现象在老年人中更为明显。这种情况增加了药物相互作用和药物不良反应的风险,凸显了药物审查和药物精简的必要性,以减少不适当的药物治疗并优化治疗方案,最终目标是改善患者的健康和生活质量。意大利药物审查和药物精简科学联合会的这份立场声明旨在描述在不同医疗环境(即初级保健、医院、长期护理机构和姑息治疗)中实施药物审查和药物精简的关键要素、策略、工具、时机和涉及的医疗保健专业人员。还讨论了实施药物审查和药物精简所面临的挑战和潜在解决方案。