10.16.2017

STOPP/START Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in Older People

“The Beers list” in the U.S. and the “Canadian criteria” in Canada have been referred to for years as a “hit list” approach to preventing use of medications considered inappropriate in the elderly.  Despite their value in improving recognition of troublesome medications, both lack allowance for exceptions, such as palliative care, and omit a number of other concerning medications and intervention opportunities. The STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions) and START (Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment) criteria, now in its 2nd version, present a renewed approach to address some of these concerns.

Link to Age and Ageing article (3/2015)