RESUMEN
The elderly population is one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the world. Physiological alterations induced by the aging process make these individuals more susceptible to chronic diseases and, consequently, to increased drug utilization. Objective: To describe the profile of drug utilization in the elderly living in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Methods: An observational and cross-sectional population-based study to investigate the characteristics of the population, sources of information and types of drugs used by the elderly was performed. Four hundred and eighty patients were recruited from data supplied by the City Hall of Porto Alegre. The elderly were interviewed individually during the period from January to May 2006 by trained interviewers. A validated pharmacotherapy questionnaire was used for data collection and data were tabulated and analyzed by the SPSS 11.5 computer program. Results: Of the 480 patients interviewed, 13.8% did not use any medication. Cardiovascular system drugs represented the pharmacological class most used by the elderly (64.0%). When ill, 71.9% of these individuals visited the doctor, while 36.9% self-medicated. For the majority (50.2%), drugs were identified by their labels. Only 41.2% of the elderly understood medical prescriptions and 68.3% of the patients studied obtained the necessary information for the appropriate use of therapy from their doctors. Conclusions: The present study suggests that a pharmaceutical care program for the treatment, prevention, and use of medications may provide a higher efficiency to elderly drug therapy (AU)
La población anciana es una de las poblaciones que crece más rápidamente en el mundo. Las alteraciones fisiológicas producidas por la edad hacen a estos individuos más susceptibles a las enfermedades crónicas y, consecuentemente, a un aumento de uso de medicamentos. Objetivo: Describir el perfil de utilización de medicamentos en ancianos que viven en Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal poblacional para investigar las características de la población, fuentes de información y tipos de medicamentos utilizados por los ancianos. Se reclutó a 484 pacientes de datos proporcionados por el Ayuntamiento de Porto Alegre. Se entrevistó a los ancianos individualmente durante un periodo de enero a mayo de 2006 por entrevistadores entrenados. Se usó un cuestionario farmacoterapéutico validado para la recogida de datos y los datos se tabularon y analizaron con el programa SPSS 11.5. Resultados: De los 480 pacientes entrevistados, el 13,8% no utilizaban medicación. Los medicamentos del aparato cardiovascular representaban el grupo terapéutico más usado por los ancianos (64,0%). Cuando enferman, el 71,9% de estos individuos visitaron al médico, mientras que el 36,9% se auto-medicó. Para la mayoría (50,2%), identificaron los medicamentos por las etiquetas. Sólo el 41,2% de los ancianos entendían las recetas médicas y el 68,3% de los pacientes estudiados obtuvieron la información necesario de sus médicos. Conclusiones: El presente estudio sugiere que un programa de atención farmacéutica para el tratamiento, prevención y uso de medicaciones puede proporcionar una mayor eficiencia a los tratamientos de los ancianos (AU)
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Utilización de Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Polifarmacia , Enfermedad Crónica/tratamiento farmacológico , Automedicación/tendencias , Anciano/estadística & datos numéricos , Brasil/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
UNLABELLED: The elderly population is one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the world. Physiological alterations induced by the aging process make these individuals more susceptible to chronic diseases and, consequently, to increased drug utilization. OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of drug utilization in the elderly living in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. METHODS: An observational and cross-sectional population-based study to investigate the characteristics of the population, sources of information and types of drugs used by the elderly was performed. Four hundred and eighty patients were recruited from data supplied by the City Hall of Porto Alegre. The elderly were interviewed individually during the period from January to May 2006 by trained interviewers. A validated pharmacotherapy questionnaire was used for data collection and data were tabulated and analyzed by the SPSS 11.5 computer program. RESULTS: Of the 480 patients interviewed, 13.8% did not use any medication. Cardiovascular system drugs represented the pharmacological class most used by the elderly (64.0%). When ill, 71.9% of these individuals visited the doctor, while 36.9% self-medicated. For the majority (50.2%), drugs were identified by their labels. Only 41.2% of the elderly understood medical prescriptions and 68.3% of the patients studied obtained the necessary information for the appropriate use of therapy from their doctors. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that a pharmaceutical care program for the treatment, prevention, and use of medications may provide a higher efficiency to elderly drug therapy.