Estudo de utilização de medicamentospor idosos em um serviço de referência em geriatria em um aregião do Distrito Federal

Abstract

Introduction: The growth of the elderly population in recent years around the world is marked by changes in morbidity and mortality patterns. Among the changes in the epidemiological profile, the increase of chronic-degenerative diseases and mental disorders are responsible for the massive use of health services. The elderly are therefore routinely exposed to the use of drugs, witch although necessary may also be responsible for undesirable outcomes, if not used in a rational way. The use of tools as the Beers criteria and STOPP/START criteria (Criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people), can help to prevent and avoid harm to vulnerable patients. Objectives: To evaluate the polypharmacy, the use of drugs and propose pharmacotherapeutic interventions in elderly patients assisted in a specialized geriatric outpatient service of Recanto das Emas, Federal District, according to the Beers criteria and STOPP/START criteria (Criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people). Methods: Analytical, cross-sectional research with a quantity approach, conducted in the city of Recanto das Emas, Federal District, Brazil, with a sample of 191 older adults, of both sexes, during routine of clinic visits in a specialized geriatric outpatient service. The variables analyzed were sex, age, educational level, origin, functional capacity, illnesses diagnosed and history of medications used. The data were investigated using bivariate analyses and multiple analysis through logistic regression. For all the analyses, values of p ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Results: A high prevalence of drugs used by the sample was observed (n=191, 1.111 medications, median of 06 drugs/patient). A total of 150 drugs (13,5%) was classified as potentially inappropriate according to the Beers criteria (2015) and 135 drugs (12,16%) according to the STOPP/START criteria (2014), presenting a wide variety in terms of both quantity and pharmacological classes, according to the ATC/WHO classification (2017). As products of this research stand out an authoral article and a primer, titled respectively “A study on drug use by elderly in a specialized geriatrics outpatient service in a region of the Federal District” and “How to properly use your medicines”. Conclusion: The polypharmacy incidence and the use of inappropriate drugs were considered high and the adoption of counseling and qualification measures for prescribers, patients, caregivers and family members is necessary for the improve of old people life quality.