Drug utilization among elderly in a primary health care unit

Authors

  • RINALDO EDUARDO MACHADO DE OLIVEIRA
  • MARIANA MARTINS GONZAGA DO NASCIMENTO
  • MARIANA LINHARES PEREIRA

Keywords:

Envelhecimento, Farmacoepidemiologia, Polimedicação

Abstract

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

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2019-03-11

How to Cite

1.
OLIVEIRA REMD, NASCIMENTO MMGD, PEREIRA ML. Drug utilization among elderly in a primary health care unit. Rev Bras Farm Hosp Serv Saude [Internet]. 2019Mar.11 [cited 2024Mar.29];7(3). Available from: https://rbfhss.org.br/sbrafh/article/view/262

Issue

Section

ARTIGOS PUBLICADOS

Most read articles by the same author(s)