Polypharmacy in the elderly: therapy adherence

The elderly population has been growing significantly, leading to an increased prevalence of chronic diseases and consequent taking medication. Polypharmacy is the chronic and simultaneous use of different drugs by the same individual, and the elderly are the more susceptible. The complex therapies of elderly can lead to therapy non-adherence, increasing several health risks. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of polymedicated elderly, evaluate therapy adherence and associated factors, and check the differences among non-institutionalized elderly and users of day centers. This cross-sectional study was based on a questionnaire, validated for the Portuguese population based on the Morisky scale, applied to 200 non-institutionalized elderly and 68 under day centers, of interior and coastal counties of northern Portugal. It was considered as polymedicated seniors taking ≥4 drugs. To assess therapy adherence, those whose average adherence levels were ≥3.5, were called adherent. The sample was predominantly polymedicated (59%) and shows high therapy adherence (95%), the average number of different drugs daily ingested was about seven. Elderly of coastal, show superiors levels of therapy adherence than those of interior county (p=0.007). Only the economic difficulties are related to non-adherence (p=0.022). No statistically significant differences were found between non-institutionalized elderly and users of day centers. This study shows that a large proportion of elderly were polymedicated, managing an average of almost 7 drugs daily. The majority adhered to the therapy prescribed, and only the area of residence and economic difficulties were related to levels of therapy adherence. institutionalized elderly; Users of day centers