title: [Use of potentially inappropriate medication by the elderly in São Paulo, Brazil: SABE Study].
abstract: Various medicines are considered unsuitable for older adults due to alterations in pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, lack of therapeutic efficacy, and/or increased risk of adverse events exceeding potential benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication among older adults in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 1,254 individuals aged 60 years or older (participants in the SABE Study), representing the elderly population of the city in 2006. Potentially inappropriate medication was defined according to the Beers criteria. Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication was 28%. Potentially inappropriate medication was associated with polypharmacy (p=0.001), two or more diseases (p=0.011), and female gender (p=0.007). Thirty-six potentially inappropriate medicines were identified, the majority of which involving prescription medications. Specific criteria are needed for the Brazilian population, in addition to awareness-raising on clinical pharmacology in older adults. Prescription protocols and software programs could assist in the process of rational prescribing in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Teresa Cristina Jahn
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Cassoni
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ligiana Pires
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nicolina Silvana
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Romano-Lieber
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Silvia Regina
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Secoli
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lebrão
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019338:Polypharmacy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors