Pharmacoepidemiology and Health in a Brazilian Older Population

SummaryBackgroundMany health concerns, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, falls and inadequate drug use, can affect the vulnerable older population. The objectives of this study were to verify the use of prescription drugs in an older population, as well as their morbidities and the occurrence of falls.MethodsThe study comprised 300 older people from the town of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Data were collected during leisure sessions using a 23-item questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using Mantel-Haenszel Chi-squared test, Student's t test and odds ratio calculation. Drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical Classification System, and diseases were classified following the 10th Review of the International Classification of Diseases and Health Problems.ResultsThe majority of the subjects were women aged 60–70. Circulatory health problems were the most prevalent diseases. There was a significant positive association between bone and skeletal muscle diseases and falls (odds ratio, 2.27). Overall, 82.3% of the subjects had used at least one medicinal drug in the last 15 days. During this time interval, 554 drugs were consumed, leading to an average of 2.4 remedies per subject. Cardiovascular drugs were the most prevalent therapeutic indications (39%). Although 87% of drugs used by the subjects were prescribed by a physician, 56.7% of the subjects had not been examined by a physician in the last 30 days.ConclusionIn this older population, the presence of morbidities and frequent use of drug use were commonly observed. Special care should be taken for older subjects with bone and skeletal muscle diseases to reduce the risk of falls. The high proportion of older people using drugs without a recent medical prescription indicated irrational medicinal drug use