Drug utilization among elderly in a primary health care unit
Keywords:
Envelhecimento, Farmacoepidemiologia, PolimedicaçãoAbstract
Describe the profile of drug use by the elderly in a Unit of Primary Healthcare. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study in a Unit of Primary Healthcare in Divinópolis City, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We defined statistical sample of 100 elderly users of registered drugs in service. Through semi-structured interviews, data was collected about: drug use, sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions. We evaluated quality criteria of geriatric prescribing as polypharmacy (use of 5 or more medications), degree of agreement to Essential Medicines Lists and access. Statistical association analyzes were performed with chi-square test. The sample had a mean age of 68.4 years female majority (69%), low income (73% earning up to 1 minimum wage) and education (20% illiterate). The average number of drugs used was 4.3/elderly most of which acting on the cardiovascular system. Polypharmacy was observed in 40% of the sample and the presence of 34% of drugs on the WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines. None of those interviewed reported self-drug and 98% of the drugs were purchased at pharmacies in public schools. Didn’t detect statistically significant associations between sex, age, education or income and polypharmacy. It revealed a high average of medications used and a large number of elderly in polypharmacy. Thus, there is the need to implement user orientation strategies regarding the appropriate use of drugs, prevention of adverse events related to drugs and pharmacotherapeutic monitoring in Unit of Primary Healthcare
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