Abstract

ANALYSIS OF PREVALENT PATHOLOGIES, PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENTS AND THEIR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS IN A HOSPITAL OF MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Emiliano Giraudo*, Gabriela Chacón, Alicia Panini, Mauricio Teves and Claudia Calderón

ABSTRACT

The goal was to conduct a preliminary assessment of drug use in elderly patients at a Mendoza hospital. An observational, descriptive, transversal of indication-prescription study was carried out during four months. Data were collected of 52 elderly patients from different hospital services. Drugs, diseases and interactions were classified according to Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical Classification, International Diseases Classification and Horn’s algorithm, respectively. Polypharmacy existence was considered when four or more drugs were prescribed simultaneously. Results (%): Gender: M (59), F (37). Age range: 61-93 years. Services: Medical Clinic (72), Traumatology (15), Surgery (3), Gynecology (2). Diagnosis: fracture (12), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8), heart failure (8). Drugs/prescription: 3 or less (52), more of 3 (48). Drugs (506): Ranitidine (13), heparin (7), enalapril (6), diclofenac (4). Interactions: enalapril-antacids (19), aspirin-antacids (8), dexamethasone antacids, aspirin-enalapril, diclofenac-antihypertensive drug, digoxinfurosemide and digoxin-spironolactone (5). Recipes number/patient: 1 (40), 2 (26), 3 (15), 4 (10), 5 (5), 6 and 7 (2). Interactions: 39 in 126 recipes. The male sex was predominant. The antacids, antimicrobials, antithrombotics and NSAIDs are the most commonly used drugs. The most frequent disorders were musculoskeletal, respiratory, and metabolic. The detected polypharmacy was high, on average more than 4 drugs by prescription and over 10 drugs by patient. This polypharmacy favored the interactions. Moreover, inappropriate drug uses were detected. These situations can endanger the health or life of the patient. These results are considered satisfactory and are an encouragement to continue them in a larger number of patients and promote prudent use of medicines.

Keywords: Elderly patients, polypharmacy, interactions, adverse drug reactions.