This indicator is interpreted as the rate of seniors who have chronic use of a medication identified as potentially inappropriate to prescribe to seniors because it is either ineffective or it poses unnecessarily high risk for older persons and a safer alternative is available. It should be noted that there may be cases where it is appropriate for seniors to take drugs on the Beers list.
There may be differences in population characteristics (such as age and health status) between seniors with and without public coverage. In provinces where a lower proportion of seniors have claims accepted by the public plan, drug utilization patterns among those with public coverage are more likely to be affected by these differences and, therefore, may be less reflective of utilization patterns among all seniors in the province.
The total number of seniors with at least 2 claims and 180 days' supply for a drug from the Beers list that was accepted by a public drug program divided by the total number of seniors with at least 1 claim for any drug accepted by a public drug program
Total number of seniors with at least one claim accepted by a public drug program
Total number of senior claimants with at least 2 claims and 180 days' supply for a drug from the Beers list accepted by a public drug program
Comments
Not applicable