[Use of medicines by individuals with hypertension and diabetes in municipalities covered by the Pharmacy Network in Minas Gerais State, Brazil].

This article analyzes the use of medicines by individuals with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus who received their medication through a public network of pharmacies, with a particular emphasis on gender differences. During the first two months of 2010, individuals with hypertension and/or diabetes were interviewed in half of the 64 municipalities (counties) participating in the Minas Gerais Pharmacy Network. Mean age of the 4,777 interviewees was 60.9 years, which may have contributed to the high mean number of medicines used (4.0 among women and 3.5 among men). The most frequently used drugs were those acting on the cardiovascular system (56.3%), alimentary tract and metabolism (14.9%), and nervous system (13.8%), consistent with the sample's epidemiological profile. Women and more elderly individuals tended to use more medicines. The findings show high expenditures on medicines by the interviewees and suggest the design of educational activities targeting rational use of medication.