Abstract
To identify knowledge produced about drug utilization by the elderly in the primary health care context from 2006 to 2014. An integrative review of the PubMed, LILACS, BDENF, and SCOPUS databases, including qualitative research papers in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. It excluded papers with insufficient information regarding the methodological description. Search found 633 papers that, after being subjected to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, made up a corpusof 76 publications, mostly in English and produced in the United States, England, and Brazil. Results were pooled in eight thematic categories showing the current trend of drug use in the elderly, notably the use of psychotropics, polypharmacy, the prevention of adverse events, and adoption of technologies to facilitate drug management by the elderly. Studies point out the risks posed to the elderly as a consequence of changes in metabolism and simultaneous use of several drugs. There is strong concern about improving communications between professionals and the elderly in order to promote an exchange of information about therapy, and in this way prevent major health complications in this population.
Highlights
The aging process can lead to changes that may affect drug metabolism
Drug utilization in the elderly is truly epidemic, and this may be associated with different factors such as: increased prevalence of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in this population segment; high health medicalization reported in the last few years and propelled by the pharmaceutical industry’s power; and the incentive to prescribe drugs observed in both the training and practice of health professionals, among others[2]
In the face of this panorama, and to foster the debate about how drug utilization in the elderly in primary health care plays an important role, we suggest an integrative review based on the following question: In the scientific literature between 2006 and 2014, which would be the state-of-theart regarding drug utilization in the elderly in the context of primary health care?
Summary
The aging process can lead to changes that may affect drug metabolism. This is a concerning fact, mainly regarding how the elderly experience the daily use of medications, and especially if we take into consideration the potential complications in terms of their health.One should keep in mind that aging is not a homogeneous process. The aging process can lead to changes that may affect drug metabolism. This is a concerning fact, mainly regarding how the elderly experience the daily use of medications, and especially if we take into consideration the potential complications in terms of their health. One should keep in mind that aging is not a homogeneous process. Each patient presents with individual pharmacokinetic variations including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs[1]. It is worth mentioning that the frequent use of medications in the elderly can be considered as not just an attempt to treat comorbidities but, above all, as a way to mitigate common aging situations[3] Drug utilization in the elderly is truly epidemic, and this may be associated with different factors such as: increased prevalence of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in this population segment; high health medicalization reported in the last few years and propelled by the pharmaceutical industry’s power; and the incentive to prescribe drugs observed in both the training and practice of health professionals, among others[2].
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