THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF IATROGENIA IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION LINKED TO THE USE OF POLYPHARMACY

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594192409022

• Palavras-chave: “elderly”, “iatrogeny” and “polypharmacy”

• Keywords: “elderly”, “iatrogeny” and “polypharmacy”

• Abstract:

  Polypharmacy is the accumulation of medication caused by five or more medications through pathologies and is often associated with the effects of other medications. In old age, this situation is very common due to the prevalence of diagnoses of chronic diseases. Through the importance of this issue as it interferes with the quality of life in old age due to high medication prescriptions without observing the side effects of the drugs, linked to iatrogenesis qualified as an unnecessary action by any health professional. Faced with senescence, the natural process of aging, changes in body composition are common, because with the drop at muscle mass and intracellular water, the body responds differently to medications when compared to people under 60 years of age. This effect increases the risk of malnutrition, fractures, hospitalizations and worsening of chronic diseases, not to mention psychological effects associated with high medications such as depression, social isolation, delusions. Refers to a literature review using SCIELO, MEDLINE and GOOGLE ACADÊMICO databases. Works published between 2020 and 2023 in English and Portuguese using the descriptors “iatrogenia”, “elderly” and “polypharmacies”. It is understood the importance of contact drug treatment that has a total evaluation of the already used observed effects that can cause in old age through its limitations and expected physiological changes, increasing the quality of life, reducing unnecessary expenses and risks for future diseases.