Table 1.

Markers of suboptimal medication use

Variable	Definition and data
Potential over utilization	Number of (self-reported) medicines
Potential under-utilization	History of atrial fibrillation or flutter in WADLS (at least two events, without ablation)* and did not report antiplatelet agent or anticoagulant therapy; OR
	History (WADLS or self-reported) of cerebrovascular† disease and did not report taking ACE inhibitor (or angiotensin II antagonist) and statin; OR
	History of peripheral arterial disease‡ (WADLS) or CHD§ (WADLS or self-reported) and did not report taking antiplatelet agent, ACE inhibitor (or angiotensin II antagonist), β-adrenoceptor blocker and statin therapy; OR
	Self reported history of hypertension, or recorded blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg, and did not report taking antihypertensive, diuretic, β-adrenoceptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor antagonist therapy.
Potentially inappropriate medicines use	Self-reported use of a medicine commonly contra-indicated in older people (benzodiazepines, barbiturates, mianserin, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, NSAIDs, dextropropoxyphene, cyproheptadine, propantheline, amantadine, benzhexol/benztropine, methyldopa, cimetidine, sulfonamide-trimethoprim combinations, disopyramide, hydrochlorothiazide-potassium sparing diuretic combinations, glibenclamide, theophylline, fluoxetine, antihistamines, oxybutynin, ergot alkaloids, nitrofurantoin, amiodarone, nifedipine, clonidine/apraclonidine, promethazine, dicyclomine, hyoscyamine, ticlopidine, dexamphetamine); OR
	Self-reported use of a medicine which is commonly toxic in among older people (digoxin, ferrous sulphate), antipsychotics, allopurinol, metformin when eGFR < 60 ml min−1, prazosin, warfarin when combined with a NSAID); OR
	reports use of medicines suggesting prescribing cascade (cholinesterase inhibitors with systemic anticholinergics, anti-Parkinson's medicines with dopamine antagonists, diuretics with NSAIDs, thiazides with anti-gout therapy, β-adrenoceptor blockers with self reported history of asthma).

^*427.4x (ICD-8), 427.3x (ICD-9), or I48.x (ICD-10); without 37.3[3/4] (ICD-9) or 38512–00, 38515–00, 38287–00 or 38290–00 (ICD-10-AM).

^†362.3x, 433.x1, 434.x1, 430.x, 431.x, 436.x (ICD-9) or H34.1x, I60.x, I61.x, I63.x, I64.x (ICD-10).

^‡440.0-3x, 440.9x, 442.x, 444.0-4x, 444.9x, 443.1, 443.9, 445.0, 445.9 (ICD-8), 250.7x, 440.0-3x, 440.9x, 442.3, 443.1-2x, 443.81, 443.9x, 444.0-2x, 444.8-9x, 447.1, 785.4, 445.0x, 445.8x (ICD-9) or I70x, I71.0[0–3], I74.0–5, I74.8–9, I79.2x, E10.5x, E11.5x, I72.4, I73.1, I73.9, I77.1 (ICD-10).

^§410.x-414.x (ICD-8,9) or I20.x-I25.x (ICD-10).