The examination of geriatric pharmacotherapy.

Abstract

Address for correspondence: Dr. Abimbola Farinde, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Webster, Texas 77598, USA. E-mail: aofpharm420@hotmail.com The geriatric population can be viewed by the medical and scientific community as a particularly unique patient population given the age related changes that can occur over time which can contribute to mental, biologic deterioration, or psychological failures that can impair functionality.[1] In the United States, the approximate estimation was that less than 15% of the total population was older than 65 years of age in 2004, and this number is expected to increase to 20% by 2030.[2] As a result of age related impairments, the older population can be placed on a number of pharmacological agents in an attempt to maintain or improve the quality of life, or extend functional ability to a certain degree. The primary goal of geriatric pharmacotherapy is centered on optimizing drug treatment which can provide to be difficult given the lack of age-specific guidelines or scientific evidence in this age group to inform clinical decision making.[3,4]