[Use of medicines by the elderly in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil].
Medicines are one of the most important health care items for the elderly, who are particularly prone to use multiple drugs with a higher number of adverse reactions. The current study aimed to assess the profile of pharmaceutical consumption by the elderly. A cross-sectional epidemiological study used household interviews in a random sample of 294 elderly living in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The elderly represent 9% of the local population. The results showed a mean consumption of 2.79 medicines per individual. The prevalence rate for use of medicines in the previous week was 82%, and of the 827 medicines used by the elderly, 794 (96%) had been prescribed. The most widely used pharmacological classes were anti-hypertensives (21.3%) and diuretics (11.3%). Prevalence of pharmaceutical use was comparable to the results from other studies, thus confirming the importance of medicines in the health of the elderly. The percentage of medicines used without a medical prescription was low. The most frequently reported medicines and formulations were those usually prescribed and dispensed free of cost in the municipal basic health care system, which has been organized for more than 10 years, with coverage of nearly 100%.
Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Taquara 644, Santa Rosa, RS, Brazil. vafflores@yahoo.com.br
Vanessa Boeira
VB
Flores
Luís Antônio
LA
Benvegnú
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D019338:Polypharmacy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs