Table 2 Factors associated with inappropriate medication use (IMU) in multivariate analysis*, articles published between 1990 and 2010

Lai et al., 2009 [21]

Male (ref. Female)

0.98 (0.98-0.98)

Age (ref. 65-69)

70-74: 0.99 (0.99-0.99)

75-79: 1.00 (0.99-1.00)

≥ 80: 1.02 (1.02-1.02)

No. of medications

4-6: 2.70 (2.69-2.70)

≥ 7: 4.53(4.52-4.54)

Pugh et al.,2008 [26]

Female (ref. Male)

1.25 (1.19-1.32)

Age (ref. ≥ 85)

65-74: 1.16 (1.11-1.22)

75-84: 1.08 (1.04-1.12)

Unique drugs (ref. ≥ 10)

1-3: 0.10(0.10-0.11)

4-6: 0.25 (0.24-0.26)

7-9: 0.46 (0.45-0.47)

Bierman et al.,2007 [27]

Female (ref. Male)

1.23 (1.18-1.27)

Age (ref. ≥ 85)

65-74: 1.11 (1.07-1.14)^m

75-84: 1.05 (1.02-1.09)^m

No. of medications

1.17 (1.17-1.17)^m

1.18 (1.17-1.19) ^w

Maio et al.,2006 [22]

Female (ref. Male)

0.92 (0.91-0.93)

Age (ref. 65-74)

75-84: 1.11 (1.09-1.12)

≥ 85: 1.18 (1.16-1.20)

No. of drugs prescribed (ref. 1-3)

4-6: 2.37 (2.31-2.42)

7-9: 3.91 (3.82-4.01)

≥ 10: 7.33 (7.15-7.51)

Pugh et al.,2006 [30]

-

Age (ref. ≥ 85)

65-69: 1.30 (1.20-1.30)^m

1.30(1.10-1.60)^w

70-84: 1.10 (1.10-1.10)^m

1.00(0.90-1.20)^w

Unique medications (ref. 1-3)

4-6: 2.20(2.10-2.20)^m

2.30(1.90-2.70)^w

7-9: 3.80(3.80-3.90)^m

4.30(3.70-5.10)^w

≥ 10: 8.20(8.00-8.40)^m

9.60(8.20-11.20)^w

Howard et al., 2004 [25]

Female (ref. Male)

1.60 (1.00-2.40)

-

-

Rigler et al, 2004 [39]

Female

**

-

No. of prescriptions per month

**