Beers Criteria identify medications to avoid in which population?

• A. Older adults
• B. Athletes
• C. Pregnant women
• D. Children

Answer: (A)

Beers Criteria focus on medications to avoid in older adults because aging brings changes in how drugs are processed and how sensitive the body is to certain medicines, which raises the risk of adverse effects like confusion, falls, delirium, and organ toxicity. The list aims to help clinicians minimize harm by flagging drugs that are more likely to cause problems in people aged 65 and older, guiding safer prescribing and deprescribing when appropriate. It’s not about other groups—athletes, pregnant women, or children—who have different safety considerations and guidelines. For example, drugs with strong anticholinergic effects or sedative properties are often avoided in older adults due to higher dementia risk, confusion, and impaired balance, making the Beers Criteria a practical tool for reducing harm in this population.