Abstract
Elderly people are a particularly important population with regard to antibiotic overuse, using around 50% more antibiotics per capita than younger adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence, associated factors and evolution over time of antibiotic consumption among the Spanish population aged ≥ 65 years from 2006 to 2017. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Spanish National Health Survey in 2006, 2011/2012 and 2017, and from the European Health Survey in Spain in 2009 and 2014. The sample consisted of 26,891 non-institutionalized individuals ≥ 65 years. Antibiotic consumption was the dependent variable, and sociodemographic variables, lifestyle habits and health status were analyzed using a logistic regression model. The prevalence of antibiotic consumption was 4.94%, with a marked increase from 2006 (4.64%) to 2017 (5.81%) (p < 0.0001). Higher antibiotic consumption was associated with poor or very poor self-perceived health status, no polypharmacy and not having been in hospital during the previous twelve months, while a lower consumption was linked to being limited but not severely due to a health problem and not being at all limited.
Highlights
IntroductionAntibiotics are essential drugs in the prevention or treatment of microbial infectious processes [1]
Antibiotics are essential drugs in the prevention or treatment of microbial infectious processes [1].the World Health Organization has reported that around 50% of antibiotic consumption is irrational, irresponsible or without any clinical need [2]
In Spanish National Health Survey (SNHS) 2006, 2520 individuals were excluded who did not answer to the following variables: antibiotic consumption (1.47%), level of education (0.84%), body mass index (BMI) (65.20%), marital status (0.39%), nationality (0.32%), polypharmacy (30.01%), chronic condition (1.05%) and consumption of alcoholic beverages (0.74%)
Summary
Antibiotics are essential drugs in the prevention or treatment of microbial infectious processes [1]. The World Health Organization has reported that around 50% of antibiotic consumption is irrational, irresponsible or without any clinical need [2]. The elderly represents a important population with respect to antibiotic overuse, using around 50% more antibiotics per capita than younger adults [3,4]. Age-related physiological changes place the elderly at high risk for infectious diseases due to a combination of factors, including immune senescence, altered skin and mucosal barrier function, degenerative changes in bone and cartilage, as well as a reduction in respiratory capacity [7,8,9].
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