Prevalence of Polypharmacy of Older People in a Large Brazilian Urban Center and its Associated Factors

Luciano Magalhães Vitorino (), Jorge Henrique Lopes Mendes, Gerson de Souza Santos, Cláudia Oliveira, Helena José and Luís Sousa
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Luciano Magalhães Vitorino: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Itajubá, Itajubá 37502-138, MG, Brazil
Jorge Henrique Lopes Mendes: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Itajubá, Itajubá 37502-138, MG, Brazil
Gerson de Souza Santos: Department of Medicine, Centro Universitário Ages, Paripiranga 37550-030, BA, Brazil
Cláudia Oliveira: School of Health Atlântica (ESSATLA), 2730-036 Oeiras, Portugal
Helena José: School of Health Atlântica (ESSATLA), 2730-036 Oeiras, Portugal
Luís Sousa: School of Health Atlântica (ESSATLA), 2730-036 Oeiras, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: Background: With the aging population comes greater risks associated with polypharmacy, a significant public health problem. Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors through Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) among older adults treated in primary health care (PHC) in a large Brazilian urban center. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a random sampling of 400 older adults using primary health care. Polypharmacy was defined as the cumulative use of five or more daily medications. An assessment of a sociodemographic and health survey, fear of falling, and physical disabilities affecting activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living was conducted. Results: The mean age was 75.23 (SD: 8.53) years. The prevalence of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy was 37% ( n = 148) and 1% ( n = 4), respectively. The adjusted logistic regression showed that participants with chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) (OR = 9.24; p = 0.003), diabetes (OR = 1.93; p = 0.003), and obesity (OR = 2.15; p = 0.005) were associated with a greater propensity to use polypharmacy. Conclusion: Our results show that older adults with CNCDs, diabetes, and obesity were more likely to use polypharmacy. The results reinforce the importance of using CGA in clinical practice in PHC.

Keywords: polypharmacy; aged; frail elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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