Mark H. Beers
Mark H. Beers | |
---|---|
Born | 1954 |
Died | February 28, 2009 (aged 54–55) |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Tufts University |
Known for | Beers criteria |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Geriatrician |
Institutions | University of California, Los Angeles |
Mark Howard Beers (April 24, 1954 – February 28, 2009)[1] was an American geriatrician whose research on drug interactions among the elderly led to the creation of the eponymous Beers criteria, which lists prescription medications that may have deleterious side effects in older patients.
Biography
Born in
Beers criteria
Beers led a team from Harvard University that studied 850 residents of
Using this research as a foundation, Beers prepared a list in 1991 called Beers criteria that specifies several groups of medications that can cause harm in elderly patients, such as antihistamines and muscle relaxants, with the list updated again in 2003.[2] Medical professionals use this list in selecting medications for their patients though the list has never been clinically validated, and a 2007 study showed that Beers criteria medications caused low numbers of and few risks for emergency department visits for adverse events. [3]
Merck Manuals
Beers was named as associate editor of Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, a reference book for medical professionals published by Merck & Co., and co-edited The Merck Manual of Geriatrics.[2] He edited the 2003 edition of the Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition, which was designed for use by laypeople. In a review in The New York Times, Jane Brody said the book "could well be the most useful of all" of the plethora of medical guides aimed at the general public.[4]
His performance deteriorated over years due to vascular dementia attributable to diabetes and he resigned as editor in chief of The Merck Manuals in 2006 due to disability.[2]
Personal life
Beers was diagnosed with diabetes as a child. Both of his legs were amputated in the 1990s, after which he served as a volunteer counselor for amputees at Philadelphia's Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.[2]
Beers had lived in Miami Beach and
References
- S2CID 54314745.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pearce, Jeremy. "Mark H. Beers, 54, Expert on Drugs Given to Elderly, Dies", The New York Times, March 9, 2009. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- S2CID 17439936.
- ^ Brody, Jane. "PERSONAL HEALTH; The Road to Wellness, Paved With 1,900 Pages", The New York Times, June 3, 2003. Accessed March 10, 2009.