Prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy in community elderly

population based epidemiological study

Abstract

Study model: an epidemiological, cross-sectional, analytical, population-based study. Objective: to estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy among elderly individuals in the community and to identify the factors associated in a non-metropolitan area of Brazil. Methodology: this is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, analytical, population-based study. It was conducted in Montes Claros-Minas Gerais, Brazil, by a census sampling by conglomerate. We investigated the association between the dependent variable, polypharmacy (use of five or more drugs), and independent variables (sociodemographic and health-related). After the bivariate analysis, the associated variables up to the level of 25% were analyzed jointly by means of Logistic Regression. The level of final significance assumed was 5%. Results: Among the 686 elderly individuals, the prevalence of polypharmacy was 23.5%. In the final model, remained as factors associated with the outcome: arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart problem, osteoporosis, stroke, fragility and not knowing how to read. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of polypharmacy and important associations with factors related to chronic diseases and frailty, being able to read a protection factor. These findings reinforce the need for quality care that recognizes the specificities of the elderly in the community.