An economic evaluation of sulfonylurea medication, hypoglycemic episodes and falls in older adults with type 2 diabetes

Drug use in older persons is a major public health concern. Even though therapeutic drugs are beneficial for patients’ health in terms of survival or quality of life, patients aged >65 years have a greater risk of developing drug-related complications. Such complications may be fatal because of the high frequency of both multiple pathologies andpolypharmacy in these patients, who consume a major proportion of healthcare resources.The present work aims to evaluate the impact of treatment with a widely used antidiabetic drug (sulfonylureas) inolder diabetic patients on avoidable hospitalizations for hypoglycemia, falls, and fractures. This economic study will beconducted using data from the diabetes-specific Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System database. For Merck Canada Inc, the present work will play a key role in helping evolve research in the area of pharmacogeriatrics related to diabetes in Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Cara Tannenbaum

Student:

Justin Paul Turner

Partner:

Merck Canada Inc.

Discipline:

Pharmacy / Pharmacology

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

Université de Montréal