[Analysis of repeat prescriptions in chronic treatments at a health center]

To describe the social-health profile of the population attending for the renewal of prescriptions for long-term treatments; to quantify the possible pharmacological interactions; to measure cognitive function in a sample of this population.

Crossover study.

Urban Health Centre.

All the patients (359) who were seen during a one month period at any of the centre's nursing stations for the renewal of long-term treatment prescriptions.

All the social-health data of every patient were collected on a form. Cognitive function was assessed in one of every three cases by means of Folstein's Minimental test. Average age was 64 +/- 0.76; 37% were men and 63% women. The mean number of chronic diagnoses per patient was 3.2 +/- 0.08 and of medicines per patient 2.9 +/- 0.09. 15% medicated themselves. Pharmacological interactions were possible in 41% of the patients who took more than one medicine. 8% were illiterate and 16% only knew how to read or write. 24.54% displayed overall cognitive deterioration and 48%, lapses in memory.

Patients seen at our Centre for renewal of prescriptions were an elderly population group, with pluripathology, taking several medicines, with a low cultural level and deterioration in their cognitive functions. The risk of pharmacological interactions is very high. Repeat prescriptions for long-term treatments should not just be an administrative function: it should be performed by trained health staff.