Potentially inappropriate medications among older adults in Pelotas, Southern Brazil

Autores/as

  • Bárbara Heather Lutz Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Social
  • Vanessa Irribarem Avena Miranda Universidade Federal de Pelotas
  • Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Social

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1518-8787.2017051006556

Palabras clave:

Aged, Self Medication, Drug Therapy, Combination, Drug Utilization, Socioeconomic Factors, Pharmacoepidemiology

Resumen

OBJECTIVE To assess the use of potentially inappropriate medications among older adults. METHODS This is a population-based cross-sectional study with 1,451 older individuals aged 60 years or more in the city of Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2014. We have investigated the use of medications in the last 15 days. Using the Beers criteria (2012), we have verified the use of potentially inappropriate medications and their relationship with socioeconomic and demographic variables, polypharmacy, self-medication, and burden of disease. RESULTS Among the 5,700 medications used, 5,651 could be assessed as to being inappropriate. Of these, 937 were potentially inappropriate for the older adults according to the 2012 Beers criteria (16.6%). Approximately 42.4% of the older adults studied used at least one medication considered as potentially inappropriate. The group of medications for the nervous system accounted for 48.9% of the total of the potentially inappropriate medications. In the adjusted analysis, the variables female, advanced age, white race, low educational level, polypharmacy, self-medication, and burden of disease were associated with the use of potentially inappropriate medications. CONCLUSIONS It is important to known the possible consequences of the use of medication among older adults. Special attention should be given to the older adults who use polypharmacy. Specific lists should be created with more appropriate medications for the older population in the National Essential Medicine List.

Publicado

2017-01-01

Número

Sección

Artigos Originais

Cómo citar

Lutz, B. H., Miranda, V. I. A., & Bertoldi, A. D. (2017). Potentially inappropriate medications among older adults in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Revista De Saúde Pública, 51, 52. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1518-8787.2017051006556