Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the drug utilization by elderly patients over 65 years old and to provide information on polypharmacy.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective study between January 2013 and December 2013 was conducted using the medical records of elderly patients (≥65 years of age) who admitted the Doganlar Family Health Center in Izmir. Demographic characteristics of patients, diagnoses, frequency of health care contacts and prescription drugs were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 218 elderly patients (122 female, 96 male) attending the health center were included in the study. The mean age was 75.52±5.4 for the male patients, and 74.71±5.6 for the females. Nearly half of the patients were illiterate, and most of them were female. The most common chronic diseases were hypertension (48.1%), coronary artery disease (27.0%), diabetes mellitus (23.2%), respiratory disease (17,2%) and hyperlipidemia (12.8%), respectively. Polypharmacy was observed among the elderly patients. While 17.8% of the patients were not using regular drugs, 10.5% of them were using one drug, 13.7% two drugs, 11.3% three drugs, 8.7% four drugs and 38.0% five and more drugs concomitantly. Symptomatic treatment was very frequent, one in two patients took at least one proton pump inhibitor or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (more likely in females, p<0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our data showed polypharmacy among elderly patients was extensive. The effects and interactions of the drugs used concomitantly should be carefully evaluated before starting treatment in the elderly. Further studies focusing on drug use in elderly will be able to increase the success in geriatric pharmacotherapy.