Fangyuan and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies looking at the global prevalence of potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) use in adults older than 60 or 65 in outpatient settings. Ninety-four studies from 17 countries were included with a total of more than 371 million patients. The prevalence was 36.7%. Benzodiazepines were the most frequently prescribed PIM. In general, PIM use was inversely related to a country’s economic status with poorer countries having a higher prevalence of PIM use. Studies from low-income countries were in the minority. This study highlights that more than 1 in 3 older patients may be receiving potentially inappropriate medicines with increasing risks of adverse events.

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