Onkológia 5/2012

Specific features and principles of geriatric pharmacotherapy

The geriatric pharmacotherapy is due to continual population ageing becoming an actual medicinal problem. Geriatric patients with their specifics thus represent the meaningful part of treated patients. Those are highly frail group of patients with the increased risk of side effects and potential iatrogenic harm. The application of Evidence Based Medicine principles is because of limited data from clinical trials for this age group difficult. Except for knowing the principles of geriatric pharmacotherapy it is necessary to avoid frequent polypharmacy. The aspect of quality of life, not rarely negatively influenced by the applied treatment is also important. It is necessary to employ an individual attitude and to state therapeutic goals before initiating any pharmacotherapy.

Keywords: geriatric patient, the principles of pharmacotherapy, inatrogenic harm.