Age Range for Beers Criteria Medications
The Beers Criteria applies to adults aged 65 years and older. 1, 2
Standard Age Threshold
- The established age cutoff is ≥65 years for applying the Beers Criteria to identify potentially inappropriate medications in older adults 1, 2
- This age threshold has remained consistent across multiple iterations of the criteria, from the original 1991 publication through the most recent 2019 update by the American Geriatrics Society 1, 2
Age-Specific Modifications Within the Criteria
While the general application begins at age 65, certain recommendations within the Beers Criteria have more specific age thresholds:
- Aspirin for primary prevention: The age threshold was lowered from ≥80 years to ≥70 years in the 2019 update, reflecting increased bleeding risk that outweighs cardiovascular and colorectal cancer prevention benefits at this age 1
- Rivaroxaban use with caution: Specific guidance applies to adults ≥75 years for treatment of venous thromboembolism or atrial fibrillation due to higher bleeding risk 1
Clinical Application Across Settings
- The 65-year age threshold applies consistently across all care settings including ambulatory care, acute care, and palliative care 1
- Studies validating the Beers Criteria have consistently used populations aged ≥65 years, with some oncology-specific studies examining patients ≥70 years 1
Important Caveats
- Clinical judgment remains essential even when patients meet the age threshold, as the criteria are designed to guide rather than mandate prescribing decisions 2
- The age cutoff of 65 years represents a population-level threshold where physiologic changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics increase vulnerability to medication-related adverse events 1
- Patients just below age 65 with significant frailty or multiple comorbidities may benefit from similar medication scrutiny, though this falls outside the formal criteria scope 2