Identification of drug-related problems in the elderly attended in a clinical analysis laboratory

• Autor(a) principal: Guadagnin, Angela Maria Piva
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Sgnaolin, Vanessa
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: PAJAR - Pan American Journal of Aging Research
• Texto Completo: https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/ojs/index.php/pajar/article/view/19561
• topic: Aged. Drug Therapy. Medication Errors.; Idoso. Farmacoterapia. Erros de Medicação.; Idoso. Farmacoterapia. Erros de Medicação.

Background: To quantify and classify the drug-related problems and evaluate the use of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly. Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Performed in a Clinical Laboratory with elderly over 60 years, continuously using two or more drugs. The drug-related problems were evaluated and classified following Second Consensus of Granada. Potential drug interactions were evaluated and classified according to the Micromedex® program. The use of potentially inappropriate medications for the elderly was evaluated according to the Beers Criteria. Results: The 38 elderly included in the study were predominantly female (71.1%) and the mean age was 73.4±9.3 years. Among the most prevalent chronic diseases reported were hypertension (65.8%); endocrine disorders (65.8%), especially diabetes mellitus (36.8%), dyslipidemia (28.9%) and thyroid disease (21.0%); and mental disorders (28.9%). The average number of drugs used by the elderly was 6.5±2.8. The occurrence of polypharmacy was 71.1%. The prevalence of drug-related problems was 86.8%, with average of 3.7 and total 141. The drugs identified with potentially inappropriate for the elderly were used by 44.7% of study participants. Conclusion: Considering that the loss of cellular, molecular and physiological function of tissues or organs occurred in the aging process can impact the absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs, the geriatric population presents a great need for pharmacologic follow, aiming at reducing drug-related problems and monitoring and/or decrease the use of potentially inappropriate medications for the elderly.