Prevalencia y factores asociados al potencial uso inapropiado de medicamentos en el adulto mayor de centros geriátricos de Cuenca

Abstract

Background: aging increases the probability of presenting multiple morbidity, with the use of several drugs simultaneously, polymedication increases the inappropriate drug use and the frequency of adverse drug reactions, falls, hospitalization and death. Objective: to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the potential inappropriate use of medicines in the elderly of geriatric centers in the canton of Cuenca in the period June to November of 2016. Methodological design: it is an analytical, cross-sectional and prevalence study. The sample consisted of 292 older adults from the geriatric centers of Cuenca. A form with sociodemographic, clinical data and medication use in the elderly was developed. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS v.25 program; the measures used to present the results are frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean and standard deviation; to test the chi square (significant p <0.05); to measure association the prevalence ratio and its 95% confidence interval; and for the control of confusing variables, binary logistic regression was applied. Results: the sample is composed of 292 older adults from geriatric centers in Cuenca, 79 cases of inappropriate prescription (27.1%), 63 cases of prescription omission (21.6%), and 88 cases of risky drug interactions have been found (30.01%). Potential inappropriate medication prescriptions were associated with advanced age and low education; the potential omissions in prescription with low instruction, depression and polymedication; and the potential drug interactions with advanced age, a low level of instruction, cognitive impairment and polymedication Conclusions: the prevalence of inappropriate medication use in the elderly was high and a risk association was found for inappropriate medication use with advanced age, low education, depression, cognitive impairment and polymedication.