[Translated article] Pharmaceutical recommendations for therapeutic appropriateness in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective

To determine the prevalence of PIMDINAC criteria and to implement pharmacological interventions in a population with multiple sclerosis over 55 years of age.

Methods

Retrospective, observational, open-label study, including patients with multiple sclerosis aged 55 years and older during December 2022 and February 2023. The main variable determined was the percentage of compliance with the PIMDINAC criteria.

Results

Ninety-five patients were included, with the presence of PIMDINAC criteria detected in 67.4%. The most frequently detected criterion was non-adherence to concomitant treatment (84.4%), followed by drug–drug interactions (56.2%) and potentially inappropriate medication (25%). A total of 20 pharmaceutical interventions were performed in 17 patients (17.9%). Potentially inappropriate medication was responsible for 11 interventions, non-adherence for 7, and drug–drug interactions for 2. The 81.8% of interventions were accepted, resulting in the discontinuation of 15 inappropriately prescribed drugs. The prevalence of PIMDINAC criteria in this group of patients is high. The study revealed that PIMDINAC criteria were prevalent in 67.4% of the study population, with polypharmacy playing an important role, suggesting the potential for a multidisciplinary approach, through pharmaceutical interventions to address unnecessary or duplicate treatments.