Consumo de medicamentos por idosos, Goiânia, Brasil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the pattern of use of medications use in aged people and associate it with socioeconomic aspects and with the self-rated health. METHODS:A population-based cross-sectional design study with 934 elderly people from Goiania, Midwestern Brazil, between December 2009 and April 2010. Data were collected through a questionnaire. The dependent variable was the number of medications consumed and the independent variables were sex, marital status, education, type of residence, age, income, and self-rated health. Drugs were classifi ed according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classifi cation. The inappropriate drugs for the elderly were identifi ed according to the Beers-Fick criteria. The tests used were Chi-square and Fisher's exact test, p was considered signifi cant when < 0.05. RESULTS:The elderly consumed 2,846 medicines (3.63 medications/person). The most commonly consumed were those which act in the cardiovascular system (38.6%). The prevalence of polypharmacy was 26.4% and selfmedication was 35.7%. The most used drugs for self-medication were analgesics (30.8%), 24.6% of the elderly consumed drug considered inappropriate. Women, widows, those aged 80 or over and with worse self-rated health were more likely to practiced more polypharmacy. Most self-medication was associated with lower levels of education and worse self-rated health. CONCLUSIONS:The pattern of drug use by the elderly was similar to that found in the elderly in other regions of Brazil. The number of drugs used, the prevalence of self-medication and practice of polypharmacy and inappropriate drug use were within the national average.

Medication use by the elderly: analysis of prescribing, dispensing, and use in a medium-sized city in the state of São Paulo

“…These results corroborate the morbidity profile found and the results obtained in the study carried out in Goiânia (Goias) 16 . They are also linear to the prevalence and accumulation of pathologies of these systems which, in this age group, often require pharmacological interventions for their control.…”

“…In terms of reported medical diagnosis, diseases of the Cardiovascular System (Hypertension), the Endocrine System (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypothyroidism) and Infectious (Cold/Flu) and Osteoarticular diseases (chronic joint pain) were the most prevalent, data that reinforces the findings of other studies 16,17 . These conditions require constant monitoring by health teams and proper monitoring and control, as well as the regular dispensing of medications.…”

“…Such diseases clearly require constant investment in strategies that promote health, support their control and the prevention of complications, and focus on maintaining independence, so preventing and delaying potential illnesses and disabilities, as well as in the timely provision of treatment 16 .…”

Uso de anti-inflamatórios e analgésicos por uma população de idosos atendida na Estratégia Saúde da Família

“…10 Brazilian studies report that self-medication with analgesics is a common occurrence among the elderly, as the use of such medication is related to the treatment of pain and inflammation, common symptoms for this age group. [11][12][13] The American Geriatrics Society Panel on Persistent Pain among the Elderly 14 found that non-opioid analgesics are the most widely used drugs for pain management, although studies 12,14,15 have found an increase in the use of opioid analgesics in Europe and North America. Opioid analgesics provide an analgesia for moderate to severe pain, but should be used with caution as they can cause constipation, respiratory depression and dellirium.…”

Factors associated with polypharmacy among elderly people receiving care under the family health strategy

“…In addition, elderly persons are more likely to use a number of drugs as they undergo more physiological changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics due to their age 6 . The frequent simultaneous use of many drugs by the elderly has also been identified.…”