Juan Manuel Carmona-Torres1,2, Ana Isabel Cobo-Cuenca1,2, Beatriz Recio-Andrade3, José Alberto Laredo-Aguilera4, María Manuela Martins5, María Aurora Rodríguez-Borrego2,6,7. 1. E. U. Enfermería y Fisioterapia de Toledo, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain. 2. Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain. 3. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, Spain. 4. Facultad de Terapia Ocupacional, Logopedia y Enfermería de Talavera de la Reina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Talavera de la Reina, Spain. 5. Escola de Enfermagem do Porto/ICBAS, UP - Grupo de Investigação - NursID: Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem, CINTESIS - center for health technology and services research - FMUP, Porto, Portugal. 6. Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain. 7. Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To analyse the prevalence, risk factors and evolution over time of polypharmacy and self-medication in the older people in Spain from 2006-2014. BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is a public health problem for older people worldwide which causes different negative effects on their health, increasing health costs and pharmaceutical spending. However, previous studies do not include nationally representative samples and none of them provide updated data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with community-dwelling older adults (N = 26,277) who participated in the National Health Survey in Spain in 2006 and 2011/2012 and the European Health Survey in Spain in 2009 and 2014. METHODS: Polypharmacy (defined as use of five or more medications in the last 2 weeks), excessive polypharmacy (defined as use of ten or more medications in the last 2 weeks) and self-medication (defined as use of medications without a prescription) were evaluated. A logistic regression was used for to know the association between polypharmacy and self-medication with the sociodemographic characteristic. RESULTS: The participants were 62% female and 38% male. The mean medication consumption was 2.96 (SD ± 2.11). Prevalence of polypharmacy was present in 21.9%, prevalence of excessive polypharmacy was 0.6%, and prevalence of self-medication was 10.7%. The most commonly used medications were for blood pressure (51.6%), pain (42.8%) and cholesterol (28.2%). Polypharmacy is associated with sex (females), age, being separated/divorced/widowed, lack of education, higher body mass index, being bedridden during the last 2 weeks and self-medication. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polypharmacy and prevalence of self-medication are considerable, and they increased significantly from 2006-2014. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To deal with polypharmacy is a big challenge for nurses. These data suggest to establish innovative clinical strategies in which the health professionals and the patients are involved to improve the personal behaviour with medicines and to reduce the risks and costs of polypharmacy and self-medication.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To analyse the prevalence, risk factors and evolution over time of polypharmacy and self-medication in the older people in Spain from 2006-2014. BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is a public health problem for older people worldwide which causes different negative effects on their health, increasing health costs and pharmaceutical spending. However, previous studies do not include nationally representative samples and none of them provide updated data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with community-dwelling older adults (N = 26,277) who participated in the National Health Survey in Spain in 2006 and 2011/2012 and the European Health Survey in Spain in 2009 and 2014. METHODS: Polypharmacy (defined as use of five or more medications in the last 2 weeks), excessive polypharmacy (defined as use of ten or more medications in the last 2 weeks) and self-medication (defined as use of medications without a prescription) were evaluated. A logistic regression was used for to know the association between polypharmacy and self-medication with the sociodemographic characteristic. RESULTS: The participants were 62% female and 38% male. The mean medication consumption was 2.96 (SD ± 2.11). Prevalence of polypharmacy was present in 21.9%, prevalence of excessive polypharmacy was 0.6%, and prevalence of self-medication was 10.7%. The most commonly used medications were for blood pressure (51.6%), pain (42.8%) and cholesterol (28.2%). Polypharmacy is associated with sex (females), age, being separated/divorced/widowed, lack of education, higher body mass index, being bedridden during the last 2 weeks and self-medication. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polypharmacy and prevalence of self-medication are considerable, and they increased significantly from 2006-2014. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To deal with polypharmacy is a big challenge for nurses. These data suggest to establish innovative clinical strategies in which the health professionals and the patients are involved to improve the personal behaviour with medicines and to reduce the risks and costs of polypharmacy and self-medication.
Authors: Fifonsi A Gbeasor-Komlanvi; Wendpouiré I C Zida-Compaore; Ikpindi H Dare; Aboudoulatif Diallo; Tchin P Darre; Yao Potchoo; Mofou Belo; Didier K Ekouevi Journal: Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res Date: 2020-01-09
Authors: M Rosa Dalmau Llorca; Carina Aguilar Martín; Noèlia Carrasco-Querol; Zojaina Hernández Rojas; Emma Forcadell Drago; Dolores Rodríguez Cumplido; Elisabet Castro Blanco; Alessandra Queiroga Gonçalves; José Fernández-Sáez Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-26 Impact factor: 3.390