Evolution of medication use in Jerusalem elders: Results from the Jerusalem Longitudinal Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pharmacoepidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Medication use is increasing, but individual changes with aging are less understood.
• Focus on longitudinal medication patterns in aging populations is crucial for healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in medication use among community-dwelling elders over a 7-year period.
• To identify predictors of medication accrual in older adults from age 70 to 77.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal cohort study of 280 Jerusalem residents (Jerusalem Longitudinal Study).
• Home interviews assessed medication use at baseline (age 70) and follow-up (age 77).
• Statistical analyses identified predictors of increased medication use.

Main Results:

• Mean medication use per patient more than doubled, from 2.0 to 5.3 (p < 0.001).
• Decline in self-rated health was the strongest predictor of increased medication use (OR 3.2).
• Good social engagement at baseline predicted higher medication use (OR 1.8).

Conclusions:

• Medication use rapidly increased in Jerusalem elders during the 1990s, more than doubling in 7 years.
• While health status strongly predicted medication changes, the overall increase suggests shifts in prescribing practices.