title: Older adults living with osteoarthritis: examining the relationship of age and gender to medicine use.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) in older adults is a prevalent chronic condition associated with substantial pain and disability. Oral analgesic use is a central component of symptom management. Medication use in this population, however, is complex and must balance the need for symptom control with drug safety concerns. Our study focus was to illustrate and discuss the variability in the medications used to manage OA-related symptoms. We analysed data from a sample of community-dwelling persons aged 55 and older with hip or knee arthritis to examine social and medical factors associated with reported variation in OA drugs. A key finding is that drug types used by OA patients vary by age and gender, independent of disease, and medical and social context. Possible explanations related to patient and professional preferences are considered.
authors: College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS. judithellenfisher@gmail.com
authors: Judith E
authors: JE
authors: Fisher
authors: Peri J
authors: PJ
authors: Ballantyne
authors: Gillian A
authors: GA
authors: Hawker
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen