title: Use of medications and polypharmacy are increasing among the elderly.
abstract: To assess changes in medicine use and polypharmacy, two cross-sectional surveys were carried out among community-dwelling persons aged 64 years or over in 1990-91 (n = 1,131) and 1998-99 (n = 1,197) in the municipality of Lieto in southwestern Finland. In addition to drug use, the questionnaire included items on social background, quality of life, and home nursing services. Among those surveyed, 78% in 1990-1991 and 88% in 1998-1999 (P =.001) used prescription drugs during 7 days prior to the interview. The most commonly used medications were for the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The number of medications per person increased from 3.1 (SD 2.8) to 3.8 (SD 3.1) (P =.0001), and polypharmacy (concominant use of over five medications) increased from 19 to 25% (P =.006). These changes were most prominent among persons aged 85 years or over, especially among women. Polypharmacy is a complex and worrying phenomenon that merits more research.
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Department of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 5000, Peltolantie 5, Finland. tarja.linjakumpu@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Linjakumpu
authors.forename: Sirpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartikainen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klaukka
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veijola
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivelä
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isoaho
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019338:Polypharmacy; D015995:Prevalence; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants