title: Use of medicines by persons with disabilities in São Paulo state areas, Southeastern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the use of medicines and the main therapeutic groups consumed by persons with physical, hearing and visual disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed, where data from the 2002 Inquérito Multicêntrico de Saúde no Estado de São Paulo (ISA-SP - São Paulo State Multicenter Health Survey), as well as the 2003 Inquérito de Saúde no Município de São Paulo (ISA-Capital - City of São Paulo Health Survey), Southeastern Brazil, were analyzed. Respondents who reported having disabilities were studied, according to variables that comprise the database: geographic area, gender, income, age group, ethnic group, use of medicines and types of drugs consumed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of use of drugs by persons with disabilities was 62.8% among the visually impaired; 60.2% among the hearing impaired; and 70.1% among the persons with physical disabilities. Individuals with physical disabilities consumed 20% more medications than non-disabled ones. Among persons with visual disabilities, the most frequently consumed drugs were diuretics, agents of the renin-angiotensin system and analgesics. Persons with hearing disabilities used more analgesics and agents of the renin-angiotensin system. Among those with physical disabilities, analgesics, antithrombotics and agents of the renin-angiotensin system were the most frequently consumed medicines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a greater use of medicines among persons with disabilities than non-disabled ones. Persons with physical disabilities were those who most consumed medicines, followed by the visually impaired and the hearing impaired.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Shamyr Sulyvan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Americo Focesi
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Pelicioni
authors.forename: Chester Luiz Galvão
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cesar
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carandina
authors.forename: Marilisa Berti de
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Azevedo Barros
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia Goi Porto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult