The indicator measures the average number of drug classes seniors take over the course of a year. Seniors with multiple chronic conditions often require treatment with multiple medications. Using a higher number of drugs is associated with a higher risk of adverse drug reactions and other adverse events, like drug interactions. As some drugs are taken consistently over long periods of time and some (such as antibiotics) are taken for shorter durations, this indicator should not be interpreted as the number of drugs seniors take at one time.
The total number of distinct drug classes for each senior (age 65 and older), summed for all seniors on public drug programs, divided by the number of seniors with at least one claim accepted by a public drug program over a defined period (usually one year)
Total number of seniors with at least one claim accepted by a public drug program
Number of distinct drug classes (as defined by WHO ATC classification level 4) with at least one claim accepted by a public drug program for a senior, summed for all seniors on public drug programs
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