Pharmacokinetics of salicylates in elderly

In order to study changes in the pharmacokinetics of salicylates in old people, we used two groups of inpatients without hepatic or renal impairment: the first comprised 15 patients more than 65 years old, mean age 77 years; the second, 7 patients of mean age 21 years. Each patient was given 1 g of acetylsalicylic acid orally in the morning while fasting. Blood samples were subsequently taken after 30, 60 and 90 min and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h. Fluorimetric assay results were analyzed kinetically with a mathematical model corresponding to a single diffusion compartment model. The results showed only a slight increase in the absorption half-time in old subjects, and a marked increase in elimination half-time (3.71 and 2.38 h in old and young subjects, respectively; t = 2.33: p less than 0.05) and in the volume of distribution (5.51 and 3.83 liters respectively; t = 3.20: p less than 0.1). On the other hand, bioavailability varied little, as did metabolic clearance. This study confirms that intestinal absorption of this drug is not much impaired in old people, while hepatic and/or renal elimination functions are changed. This finding agrees with results found for aminopyrine, antipyrine, and digoxin.