STOPP/START Version 3: Evaluating Criteria for Geriatric Care
- The newest version of the Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment (START) criteria detects 17% more potential medication omissions...
- STOPP/START assists clinicians in identifying perhaps inappropriate medications prescribed to older adults (STOPP) and underutilized medications that could benefit them (START).
- The development of STOPP/START began in 2008 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom.2 The tools are designed to be used alongside clinical judgment, not...
Updated STOPP/START criteria Improve Medication safety for Seniors
The newest version of the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment (START) criteria detects 17% more potential medication omissions and inappropriate prescriptions, respectively, compared to the previous version.1 Thes tools are used globally by healthcare providers to optimize medication management in geriatric patients.
STOPP/START assists clinicians in identifying perhaps inappropriate medications prescribed to older adults (STOPP) and underutilized medications that could benefit them (START). The updated criteria, released in December 2023, incorporate new evidence and address evolving clinical practice.
Key Improvements in the 2023 Update
- Enhanced Detection rates: The revised criteria demonstrate a 17% increase in identifying both potential medication omissions and inappropriate prescriptions.1
- Expanded Coverage: Updates include new criteria related to conditions frequently seen in older adults, such as osteoporosis and cognitive impairment.
- Improved Clarity: the criteria have been refined for greater clarity and ease of use in clinical settings.
The development of STOPP/START began in 2008 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom.2 The tools are designed to be used alongside clinical judgment, not as a replacement for it.
“Appropriate medication use is crucial for older adults, who are often more vulnerable to adverse drug events,” said Dr. David Hilmer, lead author of the STOPP/START criteria. “These updated tools provide clinicians with a valuable resource to optimize medication regimens and improve patient outcomes.”
Healthcare professionals can access the full STOPP/START criteria and related resources at the STOPP/START website.
- Hilmer SN, et al.Screening tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment (START) criteria: update and systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2023;89(12):2638-2653. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.15838
- O’Connell DM, et al.Development and validation of the Screening Tool of Older persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) and screening Tool to Alert doctors to right Treatment (START). Age Ageing. 2008;37(3):239-245. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afn053