Polypharmacy in Elderly Assisted in Primary Care: Identifying Vulnerabilities and Adverse Events

Authors

  • Layane Mayara Gomes Castelo Branco Universidade de Fortaleza
  • Livia Moreira de Carvalho Rodrigues Hospital de Urgencia de Teresina
  • Socorro Milena Rocha Vasconcelos Universidade Federal do Ceará
  • Cícera Jaqueline Ferreira de Lima
  • Aíka Barros Barbosa Maia Universidade Estadual do Piaui
  • Maria Nauside Pessoa da Silva Universidade Federal do Piaui

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3823/2253

Keywords:

Primary Health Care, Elderly, Drugs, Adverse events.

Abstract

Introduction: The emergence of multi-disorders in the elderly leads to consumption of considerable amount of medications, not always prescribed by physicians.
Objective: To investigate the phenomenon of poly pharmacy in older and factors associated with it.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 173 elderly assisted by Family Health Strategy in a Basic Health Unit Family of the Brazilian Northeast capital. The main variables of interest were: socio-demographic profile of the elderly, communication conditions, use of prescription drugs continuously, reported symptoms, medication adherence.

Results: It was noticed in the study a more marked number of women 100 (57.8%) 60-69 years old (54.3%), illiterate (47.4%) and married (60.1%). The communication conditions, was found preserved in 92.5% of the elderly. The most consumed drugs were used to treat hypertension (60.7%). The most commonly used therapeutic class was the drugs that act on the cardiovascular system (35.0%). Most of the elderly ingests more than five pills a day (58.4%). In the sample studied prevailed pyrosis (55.49%), nausea and vomiting (47.3%) as major adverse effects experienced. 74.56% of seniors take medications alone.

Conclusion: The presence of self-medication and drugs, unfit for unattended use by elderly, was found. It was identified a high vulnerability of the elderly to adverse events by inadequate usage and by identifying self-reported signs and symptoms.

Author Biographies

Layane Mayara Gomes Castelo Branco, Universidade de Fortaleza

Enfermeira. Auditora da Unimed Teresina. Mestranda em Tecnologia e Inovação em Enfermagem pela Universidade de Fortaleza, Brasil.

Livia Moreira de Carvalho Rodrigues, Hospital de Urgencia de Teresina

Especialista saude da familia pela Unipos, especialista em regulaçao em saude (Sirio Libanes),especialista em urgencia e emergencia (Novafapi); mestre em Uti (ibrati/sobrati). Enfermeira do Hospital de Urgencia de Teresina professor zenon rocha.

Socorro Milena Rocha Vasconcelos, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Enfermeira. Mestranda em Tecnologia e  Inovação em Enfermagem pela Universidade de Fortaleza, Brasil.  especialidade em saúde da Família pela Universidade Estadual do Ceará UECE; Especialização  em Gestão de sistemas e serviços de saúde pela Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP; Especialização em Saúde da pessoa Idosa pela universidade Federal do Ceará - UFC- UNASUS.

Cícera Jaqueline Ferreira de Lima

UNIMED Teresina

Aíka Barros Barbosa Maia, Universidade Estadual do Piaui

Mestre em tecnologia e Inovação em Enfermagem - UNIFOR

Maria Nauside Pessoa da Silva, Universidade Federal do Piaui

Doutorando em Biotecnologia da Saúde - RENORBIO

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Published

2017-01-09

Issue

Vol. 9 (2016)

Section

Primary Care

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