Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occur frequently during hospital stays and are an important public health problem, particularly in the care of the older. Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADRs among older inpatients and the factors associated with their occurrence. Setting Brazilian teaching hospital. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with older inpatients in the internal medicine ward of a teaching hospital. The dependent variable was the occurrence of an ADR during hospitalization. The independent variables were gender, age, length of hospitalization, number of health problems, medications, and potentially inappropriate medications for the older. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the association between an ADR and the independent variables. Main outcome measure Factors associated with ADR in older inpatients. Results Among the 237 inpatients investigated, 50 (21.1%) developed at least one ADR. The total number of ADRs observed was 62 and the most frequent were acute kidney injury, hypotension, and cutaneous adverse reactions A multivariate analysis demonstrated a positive and independent association between the occurrence of an ADR and the presence of heart failure [odds ratio (OR) 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-4.6], and with hospitalization time exceeding 12 days (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.2-4.4). Conclusions The study showed a high prevalence of ADRs among the older and a positive association with hospitalization time and heart failure. Understanding the factors associated with the occurrence of ADRs among older inpatients provides elements for improving the safety of care and optimization of pharmacotherapy.
Objective To determine the profile of medications used for self-medication by the elderly.Methods A cross-sectional study based on interviews with elderly seen at a reference center for Elderly Health of a teaching hospital, from July 2014 to July 2015. Clinical, demographic and pharmacotherapeutic data were collected.Results A total of 170 elderly were interviewed, 85.9% female, and the median age was 76 years. The frequency of self-medication was 80.5%. The most used medications for self-medication were central acting muscle relaxants, analgesics and antipyretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic agents. Among the elderly who practiced self-medication, 55.5% used drugs that were inappropriate for the elderly, according to Beers criteria of 2015, and 56.9% used medications that showed therapeutic duplicity with the prescribed drugs. We identified 57 drugs used for self-medication, of which 30 (52.6%) were classified as over-the-counter and 27 (47.4%) as prescription drugs. Approximately 68.6% of elderly had at least one interaction involving drugs prescribed and those used for self-medication.Conclusion The practice of self-medication was frequent in the elderly studied. The widespread use of over-the-counter drugs and/or potentially inappropriate medications for elderly increases the risk of drug interactions and adverse events.
Resumo O estudo tem por objetivo determinar a frequência de interações medicamentosas potenciais (IMP) entre idosos hospitalizados e os fatores associados. Estudo transversal realizado em um hospital de ensino. A variável dependente do estudo foi a ocorrência de IMP identificadas utilizando o software DrugReax. Também foram identificados os pacientes que desenvolveram reações adversas a medicamentos (RAM) relacionadas à manifestação clínica de IMP. Realizou-se regressão logística para analisar a associação da ocorrência de IMP e variáveis independentes. No estudo foram incluídos 237 idosos, a prevalência de IMP foi de 87,8 %, e de RAM relacionadas às interações foi de 6,8%. Identificou-se associação positiva entre a detecção de IMP (OR 8,6; IC95% 2,5-30,0), internação por diagnóstico de doença do aparelho circulatório e número de medicamentos superior que 14 (OR 9,8; IC95% 2,8-34,3). O estudo evidenciou uma elevada prevalência de IMP na farmacoterapia dos idosos, mas reduzida prevalência de RAM. Além disso, detectou associação positiva entre IMP e internação por diagnóstico de doença do aparelho circulatório e número de medicamentos superior a 14. A identificação de fatores associados às IMP permite direcionar medidas de prevenção para populações mais expostas à ocorrência de eventos adversos.
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