Frailty, polypharmacy, and potentially inappropriate medications in old people: findings in a representative sample of the French population.

Purpose: This study analyses the relationship between medication use and frailty by considering the quantity of medications prescribed (polypharmacy) and the quality of medication prescribing (according to French criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medications-PIMs) in people aged 65 and over.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on the data from a nationally representative study about health and use of healthcare resources in France (ESPS 2012). The number of frailty criteria was assessed among exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, muscle weakness, impaired mobility, and low level of physical activity.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications: a cross-sectional analysis among 451 nursing homes in France.

Purpose: The quality of drug therapy is an important issue for nursing homes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in a large sample of nursing home residents by using the data recorded during the preparation of pill dispensers.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included 451 nursing homes across France.