The headline prevalence combines categories that require different clinical follow-up.
What the source reports
The Beijing study reviewed discharge medicines in 447 older chronic-coronary-syndrome patients using the 2019 Beers criteria. Benzodiazepines and related hypnotics appeared among PIM categories, alongside medicines flagged for caution or selected combinations. Frailty and polypharmacy were associated factors.
Limits and uncertainty
The convenience sample came from one hospital over a short interval. Over-the-counter products and some other exposure information were unavailable. A discharge prescription is not proof of continued ingestion or an actual adverse event, and class-level percentages have specific denominators.
Application to expert review
For expert review, distinguish avoid, caution and interaction flags. Establish why the hypnotic was prescribed and whether it continued after discharge. A pooled PIM prevalence cannot establish the risk, appropriateness or causal contribution of a particular benzodiazepine in a different patient.
Source and related reading
Source: Publication PMC8200161. Applications to expert review are interpretive analysis.
Related reading: Dental-Implant Sedation Separated Alertness Scores From Discharge Delay.
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