Analysis of drug prescription appropriateness according to the STOPP/START criteria of the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the endocrinology department of a multi-speciality hospital

To assess the appropriateness of prescribed drugs according to the STOPP/START criteria of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the endocrinology department of a multi-speciality hospital. Medical records of 136 patients ≥65 years old with T2DM hospitalized in the endocrinology department of the multi-speciality hospital (Moscow, Russia) were analyzed according to the «STOPP/START» criteria. The analysis of prescription leaflets has identified 30 potentially not recommended drugs (46 patients [33,8%]), the use of which should be avoided in certain clinical situations. Also the analysis has identified 175 medications that should be considered for elderly patients with certain conditions (89 patients [65,4%]). The most frequent identified STOPP criteria were: «Glibenclamide or chlorpropamide or glimepiride with T2DM» (23,3%); «Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with history of peptic ulcer disease or gastro-intestinal bleeding, unless with concurrent histamine H2 receptor antagonist, proton pump inhibitors or misoprostol» (13,3%) and «NSAID with estimated glomerular filtration rate 20–50 ml/min/1.73m2» (3%). The most frequent START criteria were: «Statin therapy with a documented history of coronary, cerebral or peripheral vascular disease, where the patient’s functional status remains independent for activities of daily living and life expectancy is >5 years» (25,1%); «Сlopidogrel with a documented history of cerebral or peripheral vascular disease» (18,9%); «Aspirin with a documented history of atherosclerotic coronary disease in patients with sinus rhythm» (18,3%). In patients ≥ 65 years old with T2DM potentially not recommended drugs are often administrated and there are no prescriptions for some appropriate drugs required in certain clinical settings. The findings give evidence of the need to optimization of pharmacotherapy in elderly and senile patients with T2DM. This adaptation will improve the patients’ quality of life and avoid wasteful spending.