[Drug consumption by people over 60 years of age in a rural area].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the frequency and distribution of the consumption of medicines in a census-based sample of people of 60 or over. To determine the association between the consumption of medicines and other socio-demographic and clinical (presence of disease) variables.


METHODS
An epidemiological crossover study based in the community.


METHODS
Rural population: the Health District of Arévalo in Castilla y León.


METHODS
825 subjects (446 women and 379 men) over 60, with an average age of 71,84.


METHODS
A standard questionnaire was used, containing medicine consumption, prescription, and clinical and demographic features.


RESULTS
The consumption of medicines per person per day was 1,92. Therapeutic groups most consumed were, in this order, hypotension drugs, cardiotonics, antirheumatics, peripheral vasodilators, digestive system drugs, neurotropics and analgesics. The number of illnesses suffered by this age-group was 2,19. There is a strong connection between consumption of medicines and age, especially in the over 80's.


CONCLUSIONS
75% of the target population took some medicine each day. Consumption is higher among women than men. Cardiovascular drugs are the most frequently used therapeutic group. Consumption of medicines is directly related to age and the number of illnesses.
Vega Quiroga
S
S
Centro de Salud de Arévalo, Avila, Madrid.
López Gay
L
L
Bermejo Pareja
F
F
de la Rosa Gil
L
L
de Bustos Tabernero
M
M
Sampedro López
M D
MD
Fraile Jimeno
M
M
Durán Parra
F
F
Moreno Sobrino
T
T
Gabriel Sánchez
R
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Consumo de fármacos en población mayor de 60 años en una zona rural.