Half of the elderly between 85 and 94 years old are polymedicated

Almost the 30% of people over 65 years old In Spain, people consume five or more medications chronically per year, despite the percentage of polymedicated people. grows with ageaffecting 44% of the population aged 85 to 94, according to the report on the Use of chronic drugs in polymedicated peoplepublished this Wednesday by the Ministry of Health.

The data, based on the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP) corresponding to 2023, show that by sex, women have a higher prevalence of polypharmacy (30.9%) compared to men (28.3%), a difference that was especially marked in the older age groups.

Likewise, in women there is a higher percentage of use of drugs related to bone pathology, thyroid, psychotropic drugs, analgesics and NSAIDs. While there is a higher proportion of men who use drugs urological, cardiovascular, antidiabetic and bronchodilators.

Risks

The prevalence of health problems that are related to the indications for chronic drugs is higher in polymedicated people than in non-polymedicated people, in all decades of age. They highlight the heart failurewith a frequency seven times higher, ischemic heart disease (almost five times higher), cerebrovascular disease and chronic renal failure (around four times higher), as well as diabetes mellitus (three times higher).

A direct relationship is also observed between age and consumption of certain medications: drugs antidementia They are used up to 4.5 times more in those over 95 years of age than in the 65 to 74 age group. The same occurs with diuretics, antianemics and anticoagulants. On the contrary, the use of NSAIDs, insulins and statins decreases markedly with age.

Health affirms that “these findings reinforce the need to advance in strategies rational use of medicine in older people, integrating the gender and age approach.” The identification of prescription patterns not justified by real morbidity “allows plan more effective interventions, focused on patient safety, prevention of interactions and improvement of quality of life in the most advanced stages,” he adds.

More drugs, less diseases

A set of drugs presents a higher utilization rate to the prevalence of the health problem(s) related to its indication. Among these are: anti-peptic ulcer, lipid-lowering, vitamin D, analgesics, antidepressants and anxiolytics.

Other drugs, such as those indicated for health problems related to dementia, thyroid therapy, anti-osteoporosis treatment, calcium supplements or NSAIDspresent a lower use than expected according to their prevalence. The drugs antianemic, antiglaucoma, antiprostatic hypertrophy, antivertiginous or antidiabetic They have a prescription that matches the prevalence of related diseases.

Appropriate use according to the prevalence of e-drugscardiovascular sphere (antihypertensives, anticoagulants, antiplatelets), “largely used with preventive intent, it is difficult to interpret, given the variability of its indications,” the report states.