Continuous-use medication and associated factors in the elderly living in Quixadá, Ceará, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Meneses, André Luis Lima de¹  Silva, Gilmar de Oliveira Barros¹  Frota, Mirna Albuquerque¹  Gondim, Ana Paula Soares¹  Monteiro, Mirian Parente¹ 

[1] Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, Brasil

关键词: Elderly;    Elderly health;    Medication use;    Pharmacoepidemiology;    Epidemiological factors;    Cross-sectional studies;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2012000200016

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVE:To analyze polypharmacy (daily use of two or more) of continuous use medicationand its associated factors in the elderly.
METHODS: A cross sectional study conducted with elderly individuals livingin an urban area of the municipality of Quixadá, Ceara, Brazil from Mayto December, 2009. The sample consisted of 384 individuals who were 60 yearsold or older and users of continuous medication. The variables studied weresociodemographic, economical, and health characteristics related to use of medications.For the analysis of the association between the dependent variable polypharmacyof continuous-use medication and the independent variables a logistic regressionmodel was developed.
RESULTS: Results showed a predominance of females, between 60 and 69years old, married, with incomplete elementary school education, non-paid job,family income of one minimum salary, living in their own home and together withup to three individuals. A prevalence of 70.6% of polypharmacy in the elderlywas found, and it was higher in women (66.4%). Factors positively associatedwith the use of two or more continuous-use medication were: family income overone minimum salary (OR 2.83; CI95% = 1.54-5.32); two or more self-reported chronicconditions (OR 17.71; CI95% = 9.80-31.990) and self-perception of regular topoor quality of life (OR 2.85; CI95% = 1.60-5.07).
CONCLUSIONS: The study observed a practice of polypharmacy of continuous-usemedications in the elderly with family income over one minimum wage, two ormore chronic conditions and self-perception of regular to poor quality of life.Such status leads to questions on social, cultural, economic and health aspects.

【 授权许可】

CC BY