Beers Criteria

Question 1

What is the intention of the AGS Beers Criteria?

Answer 1

1. reduce older adults’ exposure to potentially inappropriate medications
2. educate clinicians and patients
3. serve as tool for evaluating quality of care, cost, and patters of drug use

Question 2

what is the target audience?

Answer 2

practicing clinicians, healthcare consumers, and anyone in pharmacy

Question 3

who does the beers criteria apply to?

Answer 3

adults 65 and older in all settings of care except hospice and end-of-life care settings

Question 4

aspirin risk and recommendation

Answer 4

-major bleeding
-avoid for primary prevention of CVD

Question 5

warfarin risk and recommendation

Answer 5

-higher risk of major bleeding
-avoid starting as initial therapy unless there are no other safe options. if already on, may continue use

Question 6

insulin, sliding scale risk and recommendation

Answer 6

-higher risk of hypoglycemia without improvement in glycemic control. avoid regimens that include only short or rapid acting
-avoid

Question 7

Sulfonylureas risk and recommendation

Answer 7

-higher risk of hypoglycemia
-avoid

Question 8

PPIs risk and recommendation

Answer 8

-risk of C. diff, infection, pneumonia
-avoid use for > 8 weeks unless for high risk patients

Question 9

NSAIDs risk and recommendation

Answer 9

-increased risk of GI bleeding or peptic ulcer including > 75 y/o
-avoid chronic or short term use with combo of steroids/anticoag/antiplatelet

Question 10

SGLT-2 risk and recommendations

Answer 10

-higher risk for urogenital infections, especially women. ketoacidosis as well
-use with caution and monitor closely

Question 11

ACEs/ARBs risk and recommendation

Answer 11

-increased risk of hyperkalemia
-avoid routinely using 2 or more inhibitors and K-sparing diuretics