Misuse of Drugs Killing Many Elderly Americans, Study Concludes
More than half of all deaths from drug reactions occur among older Americans, according to a government report Wednesday warning of widespread medication problems among the elderly.
The report by the Health and Human Services Department’s inspector general pointed to improper use of drugs by the elderly, misdiagnosis of their conditions by doctors, inappropriate dosage levels and dangerous combinations of prescribed drugs.
Americans over age 60, who compose 17% of the population, account for 39% of all hospitalizations and 51% of deaths from drug reactions, the report said.
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