[Medication use patterns among elderly people in urban area in Northeastern Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To identify medication use patterns among elderly people residing in areas with different socioeconomic status in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil.


METHODS
A total of 668 elderly (aged 60 years or older) residing in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, selected from a multistage random sampling stratified by socioeconomic status (higher, intermediate, and lower areas), were interviewed in a household survey. Descriptive statistics for dichotomous variables were presented as percent of the respective totals, and those for continuous variables as mean +/- SD. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the use of prescription, non-prescription and inappropriate) drugs.


RESULTS
Most (80.3% in the higher area) were on at least one non-prescription drug. More than one third (37.4%) were on at least one non- prescription drug and nearly 20% used at least one inappropriate in the lower area. PD use was associated with advanced age (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1-2.8); male sex (OR=0.5, 95% CI=0.3-0.7); health service visits (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.9-3.1); chronic diseases (OR=4.0, 95% CI=2.5-6.2); and higher socioeconomic status (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.5-2.6).Non- prescription drug use was associated with disability (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.1-2.2), and higher socioeconomic status (OR=0.6; 95% CI=0.5-0.8). Inappropriate drugs use was mainly associated with male sex (OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.8); chronic diseases (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.2-3.3); and higher socioeconomic status (OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5-0.9).


CONCLUSIONS
The proportions of elderly using prescription, non-prescription and inappropriate drugs were remarkable and inequalities were seen particularly among those from different socioeconomic status. These results emphasize the need for strategies to optimize the access and rationalize the use of drugs for elderly people in Brazil.
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, CE, Brazil. jmacedocoelho@yahoo.com.br
João Macêdo
JM
Coelho Filho
Luiz Francisco
LF
Marcopito
Adauto
A
Castelo
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations