title: The use of diuretic medicines by elderly people in residential homes.
abstract: Data relating to the use of diuretics from a descriptive epidemiological study of drug use in residential homes for elderly people were analysed. Of the 1,888 residents included in the study, 797 (42%) received diuretics. Significantly more females than males received diuretics (ratio of 3.1:1) and recipients were significantly older than non-recipients. They received a total of 894 diuretics of which 413 (46.2%) were loop diuretics, 168 (18.6%) were thiazide diuretics and 278 (31.2%) were potassium-sparing diuretics. The single most frequently used diuretic was frusemide. Diuretics were involved in 209 potential drug-drug interactions which represented 41% of the total number of potential drug-drug interactions. Of these interactions 19 were considered to be potentially highly clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff, U.K.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Weedle
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Poston
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Parish
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics