Abstract
Abstract Background Population aging is still an important worldwide phenomenon. Elderly people suffer from multiple chronic diseases that require the use of several drugs, and this demographic scenario fosters the increased prescription of multiple drugs, or Polypharmacy (PP) and Potentially Inappropriate Medication (PIM). Objective This study aimed to identify the prevalence rates and associated factors of PP and PIM in Brazilian older adults. Method The prevalence of PIM use and PP was estimated in a sample of 222 patients enrolled in the Family Health Program in Niterói, Brazil. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Age and sex were kept in the models as potential confounding factors. Results PP and PIM use presented prevalence rates of 23.9 and 24.8%, respectively. PP was associated with body mass index, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and a number of comorbidities, whereas PIM use was associated with PP. Conclusion The prevalence rates of PP and PIM use found were lower than those reported in previous studies. This could be a result of differences in availability of drugs or prescribing habits. Multiple chronic diseases were associated with PP. These results suggest that more care should be taken in prescribing for the elderly population.
Highlights
Population aging is still an important worldwide phenomenon
This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of PP and Potentially Inappropriate Medication (PIM) use and associated factors in the elderly population assisted by the Family Health Program in Niterói, Brazil
In the sample composed of 222 patients assisted at the Family Health Program in Niterói, Brazil, the mean age of participants was 69.6 (SD 7.7) years and 152 of them (68.5%) were female
Summary
Population aging is still an important worldwide phenomenon. In addition, the budget for medical care has been rising because of demographic changes, and because of the need to improve acute care for this specific population group[1]. Studies have shown that the number of older adults (aged ≥60 years) in the world is expected to increase by more than double - from 841 million people in 2013 to over 2 billion in 20502. This fact has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases, representing a major challenge for the health care system. Health care providers work in a culture that facilitates diagnosing and prescribing, paying relatively little attention to de-prescribing or reducing chronic medications This can lead to overtreatment, drug-related illnesses[3] and falls, which are leading causes of injuries, hospitalization, and deaths in older adults[4].
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