Table 3:

Medication classes of interest for patient-level analysis

High-quality medication usePotentially inappropriate or high-risk medication useHigh-cost drug use

  • Statins

  • β-blockers

  • ACE inhibitors

  • Angiotensin receptor blockers

  • Antiplatelet agents (e.g., ASA, adenosine diphosphosphate inhibitors, platelet aggregation inhibitors)

  • Anticoagulants

    • - Vitamin K antagonists

    • - DOACs — factor Xa inhibitors

    • - DOACs — direct thrombin inhibitors

  • Bisphosphonates

  • Bone calcium regulators (e.g., denosumab)

  • Bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory combination inhalers

  • Long-acting anti-cholinergic inhalers (e.g., tiotropium)

  • Proton pump inhibitors

  • Benzodiazepines

  • Narcotics (opiate agonists)

  • Antipsychotics

  • NSAIDs (non-ASA)

  • Digitalis preparations (digoxin)

  • Immunosuppressive agents (e.g., mycophenolic acid, natalizumab, sirolimus, tacrolimus, thalidomide)

  • Antineoplastic agents (e.g., tocilizumab, imatinib, dasatinib)

  • Ophthalmologics (e.g., ranibizumab)

  • Biologic response modifying agents (e.g., adalimumab, aldesleukin, certolizumab, etanercept, glatiramer, golimumab, infliximab, interferons, levamisole)

  • Note: ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme, ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker, ASA = acetylsalicylic acid, DOAC = direct oral anticoagulant, NSAID = nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug.