Drug-related damage of the ageing gastrointestinal tract.
Drug use increases with age and the elderly is at increased risk of adverse drug reactions. Gastrointestinal adverse effects are one of the most often reported. Serious event are mostly caused by NSAIDs and/or aspirin which are the most widely prescribed medications in the world. NSAIDs and/or aspirin use are associated with complications from both the upper and the lower gastrointestinal tract. The risk of these complications depends on presence of risk factors, and age is the most frequent and relevant one. At-risk patients should be on prevention strategies including the use of the lowest effective dose, co-therapy with a gastroprotective agents or use of a COX-2 selective agent. Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection is beneficial in patients starting therapy with these agents, especially in the presence of ulcer history. The best strategy to prevent lower GI complications has yet to be defined.
Sostres
Carlos
C
Service of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital, Instituto Aragones de Ciencias de la Salud, CIBERehd, University of Zaragoza, Spain.
Gargallo
Carla
C
Lanas
Angel
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin