title: Epidemiology of medication use among the elderly in an urban area of Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze medication use and associated factors among the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 400 elderly people aged over 60 living in the urban area covered by the Family Health Strategy program in Recife, Northeastern Brazil in 2009. Individuals were selected by systematic random sampling and household data were collected. Demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle factors including nutrition practices and health variables were evaluated. Medication use was the independent variable. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of medication use was 85.5%. Polypharmacy (> 5 drugs) occurred in 11% of cases. Of the 951 drugs reported, 98.2% were prescribed by doctors and 21.6% were considered unsafe for the elderly. The most commonly prescribed groups were: cardiovascular drugs (42.9%), central nervous system agents (20.2%) and drugs with an effect on the digestive tract and metabolism (17.3%). The use of polypharmacy was associated with education (p = 0.008), self-reported health (p = 0.012), self-reported chronic disease (p = 0.000) and the number of doctor appointments per year (0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate a high proportion of medication use among the elderly, including of those considered unsuitable, and inequality among groups of elderly individuals regarding the use of medication, when education, number of doctor appointments and self-reported health are considered.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sabrina Joany Felizardo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Social, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula de Oliveira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Social, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Márcia Carrera Campos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alcides da Silva
authors.initials: Ada S
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciência Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, MaceióAL, Brasil.
authors.forename: Tibério Silva
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ilma Kruze Grande de
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Arruda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012651:Self Medication; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations