Interpretation of the 2023 AGS Beers Criteria: Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults

Abstract

The Beers criteria is a tool for evaluating potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) in elderly patients widely used in various fields, such as clinical practice, teaching research, supervision and administration. The 2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria (AGS Beers criteria) for PIM use in older adults are the seventh overall update, using the development methodology following previous versions, which includes the rigor of the evidence review and synthesis process. This paper provides a detailed interpretation of the new version of AGS Beers criteria. The AGS Beers criteria aims to reduce the incidence of PIM in older adults by optimizing drug selection. The 2023 AGS Beers criteria can also be used in the education of clinicians and patients, assessment of care quality, health care costs and drug use patterns in older adults. In addition to the five tables associated with PIM as main contents, several drugs and criteria have been added based on updated evidence, mainly on the revisions and streamlining of existing drugs and criteria. The added and revised content mainly involves anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and hypoglycemic agents. The synthesis of anticoagulation recommendations has been added in the new version of AGS Beers criteria. Thirty-three drugs were removed due to low usage or not on the U.S. market. The 2023 AGS Beers criteria summarizes seven principles on the application of Beers criteria to ensure proper clinical use. Overall, the 2023 AGS Beers criteria have improved its accuracy and utility, which can better identify and reduce PIM prescriptions for the elderly patients and further guide the clinical development of rational drug use regimens.

Keywords

• potentially inappropriate medication|beers criteria|aged|american geriatrics society|rational drug use