Mar Martin-Pérez1, Ana López de Andrés2, Valentín Hernández-Barrera2, Rodrigo Jiménez-García2, Isabel Jiménez-Trujillo2, Domingo Palacios-Ceña3, Pilar Carrasco-Garrido2. 1. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública e Inmunología y Microbiología Médicas, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mar.martinpe@gmail.com. 2. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública e Inmunología y Microbiología Médicas, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. 3. Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Polypharmacy in older people is the result of several inter-connected factors, and is very common despite the associated risks. Not many population-based studies have been conducted in Spain to ascertain the magnitude of polypharmacy in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with individualised data for non-institutionalised older people (65 or older) of both sexes from the Spanish National Health Surveys (SNHS) 2006 (N=7,835) and 2011/12 (N=5,896). The prevalence of polypharmacy (use of 4 or more drugs within the 2 weeks preceding the survey) was ascertained for the 2 surveys used, as well as by sex and age groups. The prevalence of use of the different drug groups was also estimated in the elderly who used polypharmacy. RESULTS: Polypharmacy occurred in about a third of the older people in the 2006 SNHS (32.54%), and was significantly higher in the 2011/12 SNHS (36.37%) (P<.05). In both surveys, the prevalence of polypharmacy was higher in women than men and among the older individuals (≥85 years) compared to the less old. The type of drugs most commonly used were analgesics (2006 SNHS: 71.93%, 2011/12 SNHS: 76.27%; P<.05), and antihypertensive drugs 2006 SNHS: 70.26%, 2011/12 SNHS: 78.10%; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of polypharmacy is considerable in older people and increasing over time. Further research on this issue is needed to identify those individuals who are at higher risk of using multiple drugs concomitantly.
INTRODUCTION: Polypharmacy in older people is the result of several inter-connected factors, and is very common despite the associated risks. Not many population-based studies have been conducted in Spain to ascertain the magnitude of polypharmacy in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with individualised data for non-institutionalised older people (65 or older) of both sexes from the Spanish National Health Surveys (SNHS) 2006 (N=7,835) and 2011/12 (N=5,896). The prevalence of polypharmacy (use of 4 or more drugs within the 2 weeks preceding the survey) was ascertained for the 2 surveys used, as well as by sex and age groups. The prevalence of use of the different drug groups was also estimated in the elderly who used polypharmacy. RESULTS: Polypharmacy occurred in about a third of the older people in the 2006 SNHS (32.54%), and was significantly higher in the 2011/12 SNHS (36.37%) (P<.05). In both surveys, the prevalence of polypharmacy was higher in women than men and among the older individuals (≥85 years) compared to the less old. The type of drugs most commonly used were analgesics (2006 SNHS: 71.93%, 2011/12 SNHS: 76.27%; P<.05), and antihypertensive drugs 2006 SNHS: 70.26%, 2011/12 SNHS: 78.10%; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of polypharmacy is considerable in older people and increasing over time. Further research on this issue is needed to identify those individuals who are at higher risk of using multiple drugs concomitantly.
Authors: Magali Gonzalez-Colaço Harmand; Ana María Aldea-Perona; Carlos Boada-Fernández Del Campo; Almudena Areosa-Sastre; Consuelo Rodríguez-Jiménez; Marcelino García Sánchez-Colomer; Eduardo Fernández Quintana; Mercedes Plasencia-Nuñez; Paula Masiero-Aparicio; Candelaria Grillo-Grillo; Andrés Orellana-Mobilli; Mar García Sáiz; Carmen Duarte Diéguez; Mercedes Hornillos Calvo; Juan Antonio Avellana Zaragoza; Nicolás Martínez Velilla; Domingo de Guzmán Pérez Hernández; Mario Ruiz González; Encarnación Blanco Reina; Carmen Asensio Ostos; Ana Peiró; Lourdes Cabrera García; Fuensanta Hortigüela Moro; Herlinda Pérez Alayón; Iriana Espárrago García; Javier Santana Quilez; Javier Alonso Ramírez; Carlos Fernández Oropesa; Mª José López Varona; Mª Teresa Acín Gerico; Emilio Sanz Alvarez; María Ángeles Martín de la Sierra; María José Peñalver; Teresa Falomir Gómez; Jesús Ruiz Salazar; Gabriela Elizondo Rivas; Edmundo Rey Rodríguez Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2019-05-08 Impact factor: 2.953