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Changes in drug treatment in the elderly between 1971 and 2000
B Lernfelt1, O Samuelsson, I Skoog
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Vasa Hospital, 411 33 Gothenburg, Sweden.
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|August 19, 2003
Summary
Drug use and the number of medications prescribed to elderly individuals significantly increased between 1971 and 2000. This trend was observed in both 70-year-olds and 79- to 80-year-olds, indicating evolving treatment patterns in aging populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigating long-term trends in medication use among the elderly is crucial for understanding population health.
- Changes in drug consumption patterns reflect evolving medical practices and disease prevalence in aging demographics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine shifts in drug treatment among elderly men and women over a 29-year period (1971-2000).
- To analyze changes in the prevalence and quantity of drug use in specific age groups of the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five population samples of 70-year-olds and three samples of 79- to 80-year-olds across different birth cohorts.
- Data collection spanned from 1971 to 2000, encompassing individuals born between 1901 and 1930.
Main Results:
- The proportion of 70-year-olds using drugs increased from 60% to 79% (men) and 76% to 88% (women).
- The average number of drugs per treated individual rose significantly for both age groups.
- Cardiovascular drugs, analgesics, and central nervous system drugs were most common, with notable increases in anti-ulcerative, anti-thrombotic, and antidepressant medications.
Conclusions:
- Drug treatment prevalence and the average number of prescribed medications increased substantially in the elderly population between 1971 and 2000.
- Significant changes in treatment patterns for various diseases were observed, highlighting evolving geriatric pharmacotherapy.
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