[Drug use pattern in an ambulatory geriatric population].
OBJECTIVE
To provide an update of drug utilization patterns of 500 ambulatory subjects over 60 years of age.


METHODS
Subjects were asked about their prescribed and nonprescribed medications an a detailed questionnaire was fulfilled. The case records and prescription sheets, when available, were examined.


RESULTS
Drug histories were obtained on 313 women and 187 men. the mean age was 71 years (range 60-96). Of these participants 1.8% were taking no medications. The average number of drugs used was 4.8 (range from 0-16) nevertheless, the mean number of pharmacological active ingredients was much higher (7.3). The mean number of nonprescribed medications was 0.11, the majority with only an active ingredient. 87% had been used for longer than three months, and were taken daily (84%). The most commonly prescribed medications in this population were paracetamol, digoxin, hydrochlorothiazide, amiloride, nifedipine and captopril.


CONCLUSIONS
The elderly are, in fact, receiving an increasing number of medications with a narrow therapeutic index and chronically.
García Domínguez
M D
MD
Servicio de Farmacología Clínica y Medicina, Hospital Universitario, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga.
Lucena González
M I
MI
Ramírez Torres
J M
JM
Andrade Bellido
R J
RJ
Sánchez de la Cuesta
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
Patrón de utilización de medicamentos en una población geriátrica ambulatoria.