The nature of the problem
A culture of prescribing to treat long-term conditions, coupled with
age-associated changes in the processes of metabolising medicine, have
led to an ‘overprescribing epidemic’ amongst older adults (1). The World
Health Organization recognises overprescribing as a serious problem yet
deprescribing of medicines with more risks than benefits is not routine
practice. Approximately half of older adults admitted to hospital are
prescribed at least one medicine with more risks than benefits (2);
however, only 1% have a medicine deprescribed during an admission (3).