Abstract: We evaluated the frequency and category distribution of drug therapy problems in young and elderly patients. A retrospective study of the medical conditions, drug therapies, and drug therapy problems identified in 102 patients was performed. The patients were divided into young patient group (<65 years of age) and elderly patient group (≥65 years of age) in a hospital pharmacy setting. Inclusion criteria: patients who were referred by the treating doctors and received evaluation by the clinical pharmacists. Exclusion criteria: patients who were unable to or refused to be evaluated by the clinical pharmacists. We found that 1) Patients in young and elderly groups had a mean of 3 and 5 medical conditions per person, respectively (P = 0.001). 2) On the average, they took 4 and 7 drug therapies per person, respectively. The elderly patients took a significantly higher number of drug therapies (P = 0.001). 3) Totally 85 drug therapy problems in 7 categories were identified within 102 patients. 4) 36.8% of young patients experienced 1 to 4 drug therapy problems whereas 61.8% of elderly patient experienced 1 to 5 drug therapy problems. Drug therapy problems were significantly more prevalent in elderly patients (P = 0.017). 5) The drug therapy problem by category had similar distribution in young and elderly patients. The elderly patients in this study encountered more drug therapy problems than young patients. Accordingly, more attention should be paid to elderly patients in pharmaceutical care practice.

Key words: Clinical pharmacy, Clinical pharmacy, Pharmacy practice, Pharmacy practice, Pharmaceutical care, Pharmaceutical care, Drug therapy problems, Drug therapy problems