The effect of dysfunctionality caused by polypharmacy in elderly people cared for in health care unitsprimary health care (PHC) in the municipality of Várzea Grande (MT)

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594232422028

• Palavras-chave: health of the elderly, polypharmacy, geriatric assessment, aging.

• Keywords: health of the elderly, polypharmacy, geriatric assessment, aging.

• Abstract:

  Aging is characterized by a series of progressive morphological and physiological changes, which lead to an increased vulnerability to various diseases acquired during life. There is an increasing prevalence of frailty syndrome in the elderly (FIS), an identifiable clinical condition resulting from the decline of physiological and functional reserves in multiple systems, culminating in a reduction in the physiological and psychological tolerance of the elderly individual, increasing their dependence. Additionally, the emerging vulnerability attributed to the use of polypharmacy in the elderly is a consequence of the possible adverse effects of drugs, the risks of drug interactions, the stressful routine of administering daily doses of medication and economic difficulties. This study is cross-sectional, analytical, population-based, conducted from March to June 2016, in a population sample of 377 elderly individuals over 60 years of age, treated in primary health care (PHC) in the municipality of Várzea Grande – MT. The objective was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy in elderly people treated in primary health care (PHC) units in the municipality of Várzea Grande. The present study revealed a significant prevalence of polypharmacy in the variables: literate elderly (25.6%, p-value 0.017), female (25.1%, p-value 0.050), vulnerable (26.49%, p-value 0.028 and dependent on the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale (25.53%, p-value 0.022) and activity of daily living (ADL) (29.13%, p-value 0.033).