[Analysis of repeat prescriptions in chronic treatments at a health center].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the social-health profile of the population attending for the renewal of prescriptions for long-term treatments; to quantify the possible pharmacological interactions; to measure cognitive function in a sample of this population.


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
Urban Health Centre.


METHODS
All the patients (359) who were seen during a one month period at any of the centre's nursing stations for the renewal of long-term treatment prescriptions.


RESULTS
All the social-health data of every patient were collected on a form. Cognitive function was assessed in one of every three cases by means of Folstein's Minimental test. Average age was 64 +/- 0.76; 37% were men and 63% women. The mean number of chronic diagnoses per patient was 3.2 +/- 0.08 and of medicines per patient 2.9 +/- 0.09. 15% medicated themselves. Pharmacological interactions were possible in 41% of the patients who took more than one medicine. 8% were illiterate and 16% only knew how to read or write. 24.54% displayed overall cognitive deterioration and 48%, lapses in memory.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients seen at our Centre for renewal of prescriptions were an elderly population group, with pluripathology, taking several medicines, with a low cultural level and deterioration in their cognitive functions. The risk of pharmacological interactions is very high. Repeat prescriptions for long-term treatments should not just be an administrative function: it should be performed by trained health staff.
Castillo Alonso
P
P
Centro de Salud La Chopera, Alcobendas, Madrid.
García Olmos
L
L
Barrios Encinas
M
M
de Pablos Arribas
F
F
Villar Herguedas
C
C
de la Cuesta Benjumea
A
A
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
Análisis de la prescripción repetida para tratamientos crónicos en un centro de salud.