Table 3.

Most common potentially inappropriate prescriptions

Criterion	n (%)	n (%) causing ADRs
Aspirin with no history of coronary, cerebral or peripheral arterial symptoms or occlusive arterial event	154 (18.9)	7 (6.5)
Benzodiazepines in those prone to fall	43 (5.4)	10 (23.3)
NSAID with moderate-severe hypertension	41 (5.0)	1 (2.4)
Long-term long-acting benzodiazepines	37 (4.6)	3 (8.1)
Prolonged use (>1 week) of first generation antihistamines	28 (3.4)	7 (25.0)
Use of long-term powerful opiates as first-line therapy for mild-moderate pain	27 (3.3)	0 (0)
Long-term opiates in those with recurrent falls	26 (3.2)	6 (23.1)
Long-term (i.e. >1 month) neuroleptics as long-term hypnotics	26 (3.2)	12 (46.2)
Oestrogens without progestogen in patients with intact uterus	23 (2.8)	0 (0)
Long-term corticosteroids (>3 months) as monotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis	19 (2.3)	2 (10.5)
Aspirin at dose >150 mg/day	17 (2.1)	0
Long-term use of NSAID (>3 months) for relief of mild joint pain in osteoarthritis	14 (1.7)	0
Vasodilator drugs known to cause hypotension in those with persistent postural hypotension	13 (1.6)	12 (92.3)
Systemic corticosteroids instead of inhaled corticosteroids for maintenance therapy in moderate–severe COPD	12 (1.5)	0
First-generation antihistamines in those prone to fall	11 (1.4)	1 (9.1)
Neuroleptic drugs in those prone to fall	10 (1.2)	0
Total	607 PIPs (374 persons)	64 (10.5)

ADR adverse drug reaction, NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease