Medication-related burden from the perspective of the elderly

Abstract

Living with extensive polypharmacy among the elderly population affects their quality of lives and medication compliance. The UK-developed (LMQ-3) which is a valid instrument designed to quantify medicine burden.
 The objectives of this study were to quantify medicines burden among community-dwelling elderly, describe the numbers and types of drugs used, and identify the risk factors that might need to be addressed.
 The descriptive cross-sectional study is designed to interview 500 Bahraini over 65 years of age using LMQ-3 questionnaire. Sample size was determined by Sloven’s formula. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and medication consumption patterns were collected then LMQ-3 and domains scores were compared by patient characteristics using descriptive statistics and statistical tests.
 Results found a wide range of burden among participants in Bahrain; ranging from moderate burden in almost a third of participants to high burden over two- thirds of participants. Burden was mainly driven by concerns about medicines, interferences of medicines with daily life and side effects. Higher LMQ-3 scores were associated with those who were employed, technical, aged ≥75 years, using ≥9 medicines, or using medicines four times a day. Anti-diabetics were the most prescribed medicines for the elderly.
 In conclusion, over two- thirds of participants experienced high burden. Being employed, technical, aged ≥75 years, using ≥9 medicines, or using medicines 4 times a day had the highest burden. These groups should become the main target for practitioners and pharmacists. Future studies should document potential herb-drug interactions among the elderly.

Assessment of Drug-Related Problems and Health-Related Quality of Life Domains in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Higher pharmaceutical burden was linked to worse HRQoL scores among older persons with chronic conditions such as diabetes. 38,39 Increased medication burden is mainly associated with increased patient exposure to health complications and medication adverse events leading to recurrent hospital admissions. Thus, greater need for healthcare support and lack of self-support which could impact their mental health as well as their functional capacity and social well-being status.…”