Polypathology, polypharmacy, medication regimen complexity and drug therapy appropriateness

Prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy in the older people: 2006–2014

“…The use of multiple medications by a person (usually ≥5) is defined as “polypharmacy” (Aguirre et al., ), although there is currently no consensus on this definition in the literature (Maher, Hanlon, & Hajjar, ). Polypharmacy has also been defined as the use of more medications than is medically necessary.…”

“…Polypharmacy has also been defined as the use of more medications than is medically necessary. Within polypharmacy, medications dispensed without prescription should be included (Aguirre et al., ), that is self‐medication, defined as the selection and use of medications chosen by the patient for the treatment of a disease and/or symptoms perceived by them (Arrais et al., ). Therefore, self‐medication is a potential cause of polypharmacy (Mortazavi et al., ).…”

Medicamentos Inapropriados Para Idosos Uma Revisão Da Literatura: Cuidados À Saúde Da Pessoa Idosa: Um Alerta À Segurança Do Paciente

“…Estudos mostram que cerca de 40% dos idosos utilizam de 5 a 9 medicamentos por dia e que 10% chegam a consumir mais que 10. Isto muitas vezes pode contribuir para a não adesão ao tratamento devido à dificuldade de lidar com muitos medicamentos e pela falta de recursos (AGUIRRE et al, 2017).…”

Profile of pharmaceutical interventions of a pharmacotherapeutic follow-up model for diabetic patients in a community pharmacy

“…Therefore, these patients become more vulnerable to non-desirable outcomes, such as failures in adherence and susceptibility to adverse effects. Pharmaceutical Care assumes a role to avoid these issues through strategies such as the promotion of the rational use of medicines, taking into consideration individual health needs (Aguirre et al, 2017;Costa et al, 2017;Ramos et al, 2016).…”