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Related Experiment Videos

Drug use by the elderly in Italy

A Nobili1, M Tettamanti, L Frattura

  • 1Laboratorio di Neuropsichiatria Geriatrica, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche M. Negri, Milan, Italy.

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|April 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Elderly individuals aged 75 and older exhibit high drug consumption, with nearly 20% of medications going unreported by general practitioners (GPs). This highlights the need for careful prescribing and thorough medication history collection in this population.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Polypharmacy is a significant concern in the elderly population.
  • Accurate medication records are crucial for patient safety and effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate drug consumption patterns in individuals aged 75 and older living independently.
  • To identify the prevalence of unreported drug use among this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted in Turin, Italy.
  • Data were collected from 261 elderly participants (≥75 years) via general practitioner (GP) visits and home interviews by social workers.
  • Medication inventories, sociodemographic data, disability, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms were assessed.

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Main Results:

  • Nearly all participants (91-95%) were taking at least one drug.
  • A substantial proportion (18.8%) of recorded drugs were not initially reported by GPs.
  • The average number of drugs per person was 3.2 for men and 3.8 for women, with cardiovascular, nervous system, and alimentary tract medications being most common.

Conclusions:

  • High drug consumption is prevalent in the 'old-old' population (≥75 years).
  • A significant percentage of medication use goes unreported by general practitioners, necessitating improved medication history-taking.
  • An essential therapeutic approach, focusing on drugs with proven efficacy, is recommended for this age group.