Cost trends of potentially inappropriate medications among older adults between 2012 and 2021 in Quebec, Canada: a population-based repeated cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are frequent in older adults, contributing to hospitalizations, adverse events, and healthcare burden. We aimed to estimate direct PIM cost trends from 2012 to 2021 among older women and men in Quebec, Canada.

Methods

Using medico-administrative data, we assessed direct costs paid by the public insurer (medication cost and professional fee, excluding out-of-pocket payments by individuals) of PIMs claimed by adults ≥65 years covered by the public drug plan. Costs for 16 PIM classes, identified using 2015 and 2019 Beers criteria, were calculated and stratified by sex and age group (65-74, 75-84, ≥85) for each fiscal year. We assessed the proportion of PIMs among all medication expenditures. We computed average costs/enrol

SUBMITTER: Gagnon M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12318379 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature