Reliability and validity of the Swedish indicator ‘Drugs that should be avoided in older people’—an appraisal of a set of potentially inappropriate medications

To analyse the reliability and validity of the Swedish indicator ‘Drugs that should be avoided in older people’. From a previous study that included consecutive primary care patients ≥ 65 years of age, all patients ≥ 75 years of age were analysed. Two physicians independently screened their medication lists and medical records, applying the Swedish indicator which includes potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs): long-acting benzodiazepines, drugs with anticholinergic action, tramadol, propiomazine, codeine, and glibenclamide. The clinical relevance of identified PIMs was independently assessed. Thereafter, the physicians determined in consensus whether some medical action related to the drug treatment was medically justified and prioritised before the next regular visit. If so, the drug treatment was considered inadequate, and if not, adequate. A total of 1,146 drugs were assessed in 149 patients (75‒99 years, 62