Prevalence of Inappropriate Prescriptions and Omitted Therapies in Hospitalized Elderly: STOPP/START Criteria Analysis

Completed

• Conditions: Polypharmacy (People Under Treatment With 5 or More Drugs); Elderly (People Aged 65 or More); Deprescribing; Hospitalization

• Registration Number: NCT07202962
• Lead Sponsor: Regione del Veneto - AULSS n. 7 Pedemontana

Brief Summary

Evaluate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) and potential omitted prescriptions (PPOs) in elderly patient upon admission to the acute geriatric department, based on adherence or non-adherence to the recommendations specified in STOPP and START criteria.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-07-17
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Primary Completion: 2024-12-31
• Study Completion: 2024-12-31
• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-09-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-23
• Study First Posted: 2025-10-02
• Last Update Posted: 2025-10-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• Elderly patients (aged >75 years) admitted to the Geriatrics Department at Santorso, Alto Vicentino Hospital.
• Currently undergoing pharmacological treatment at the time of admission.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients placed in palliative therapy upon admission to the department due to incurability of the underlying pathologies

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions (PIP) (%)	Data collected at time Day 0 is analyzed by day 4. Data collected at time Day 1 is analyzed by day 4	Percentage of elderly patients with at least one potentially inappropriate prescription identified at hospital admission (day 0) and at discharge (day 1) in the acute geriatric ward, based on the STOPP criteria. The measurement is performed by comparing the patient's medication regimen with the recommendations provided in the STOPP criteria.
Prevalence of Potentially Omitted Prescriptions (PPO) (%)	Data collected at time Day 0 is analyzed by day 4. Data collected at time Day 1 is analyzed by day 4	Percentage of elderly patients with at least one potentially omitted prescription identified at hospital admission (day 0) and at discharge (day 1) in the acute geriatric ward, based on the START criteria. The measurement is based on the absence of indicated medications according to the START criteria recommendations.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Prevalence of Pharmacological Interactions (%)	Data collected at time Day 0 is analyzed by day 4. Data collected at time Day 1 is analyzed by day 4	Percentage of patients with at least one clinically significant drug-drug interaction identified through analysis of the medication regimen using standard drug interaction checkers. Assessed at admission and discharge.
Post-Discharge Destination (Binary Variable)	Data collected at time Day 0 is analyzed by day 4.	Discharge destination classified as a binary variable (e.g., Home vs. Institutional care). Each category is analyzed separately.
Presence of Geriatric Syndromes (Yes/No)	Data collected at time Day 0 is analyzed by day 4.	Presence of specific geriatric syndromes (e.g., delirium, falls, incontinence, pressure ulcers, etc.) assessed as separate binary variables (Yes/No) for each syndrome, based on clinical records and standardized assessment tools.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Regione del Veneto - AULSS n. 7 Pedemontana; 🇮🇹 Santorso, Vicenza, Italy