[Should we treat all the diseases of the elderly?].
The coexistence of several diseases, the loss of autonomy and certain social and behavioural factors lead to polymedication. It is important to reduce the number of drugs prescribed to prevent drug-drug interactions or interactions between drugs and a system weakened by age and comorbiditiy. Because of the limited number of therapeutic trials performed in individuals aged >75 years, clinical consideration based on the consensus of experts is the primary way of establishing priorities and making rational choices.
Gonthier
Régis
R
CHU de Saint-Etienne, Hôpital Charité, Gérontologie Clinique, Saint-Etienne, France. regis.gonthier@chu-st-etienne.fr
Blanc
Patricia
P
Stierlam
François
F
D000368:Aged; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care