Perfil de utilização de medicamentos por idosos em área urbana do Nordeste do Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To identify medication use patterns among elderly people residing in areas with different socioeconomic status in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 668 elderly (aged 60 years or older) residing in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, selected from a multistage random sampling stratified by socioeconomic status (higher, intermediate, and lower areas), were interviewed in a household survey. Descriptive statistics for dichotomous variables were presented as percent of the respective totals, and those for continuous variables as mean ± SD. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the use of prescription, non-prescription and inappropriate) drugs. RESULTS: Most (80.3% in the hgiher area) were on at least one non- prescription drug. More than one third (37.4%) were on at least one non- prescription drug and nearly 20% used at least one inappropriate in the lower area. PD use was associated with advanced age (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1-2.8); male sex (OR=0.5, 95% CI=0.3-0.7); health service visits (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.9-3.1); chronic diseases (OR=4.0, 95% CI=2.5-6.2); and higher socioeconomic status (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.5-2.6).Non- prescription drug use was associated with disability (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.1-2.2), and higher socioeconomic status (OR=0.6; 95% CI=0.5-0.8). Inappropriate drugs use was mainly associated with male sex (OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.8); chronic diseases (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.2-3.3); and higher socioeconomic status (OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: The proportions of elderly using prescription, non- prescription and inappropriate drugs were remarkable and inequalities were seen particularly among those from different socioeconomic status. These results emphasize the need for strategies to optimize the access and rationalize the use of drugs for elderly people in Brazil.OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil de utilização de medicamentos por idosos residentes em áreas de diferentes níveis socioeconômicos de um centro urbano do Nordeste do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Inquérito domiciliar entre idosos (60 anos ou mais) da cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará, selecionados por amostragem sistemática em múltiplos estágios e estratificada por nível socioeconômico (melhor = área central; intermediário = área intermediária; pior = área periférica). Estatística descritiva foi apresentada pelas percentagens dos respectivos totais para variáveis categóricas e médias (± desvio-padrão) para variável contínua. Realizou-se análise multivariada para identificação de fatores associados a uso de medicamentos prescritos; não-prescritos e inadequados. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos idosos (80,3% na área central) usava pelo menos um medicamento prescrito. Mais de um terço (37,4%) na área periférica usava pelo menos um não-prescrito, e quase 20% pelo menos um inadequado. O uso de medicamentos prescritos foi associado à idade avançada (razão de chances - RR=1,7; IC 95%: 1,1-2,8); sexo masculino (RR=0,5; IC 95%: 0,3-0,7); visitas a serviços de saúde (RR=2,5; IC 95%: 1,9-3,1); doenças crônicas (RR=4,0; IC 95%: 2,5-6,2); e nível socioeconômico (RR=2,0; IC 95%: 1,5-2,6). O uso de medicamentos não prescritos foi associado a comprometimento funcional (RR=1,5; IC 95%: 1,1-2,2) e nível socioeconômico (RR=0,6; IC 95%: 0,5-0,8). O uso de medicamentos inadequados foi associado principalmente a sexo masculino (RR=0,4; IC 95%: 0,2-0,8); doenças crônicas (RR=2,0; IC 95%: 1,2-3,3), e nível socioeconômico (RR=0,7; IC 95%: 0,5-0,9). CONCLUSÕES: As proporções de idosos usando medicamentos prescritos, não-prescritos e inadequados foram significativas, havendo desigualdades particularmente entre aqueles de diferentes níveis socioeconômicos. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de programas para otimizar o acesso e racionalizar o uso de medicamentos entre idosos no Brasil

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): a valid tool to screen for depression in older primary care patients in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of the geriatric depression scale (GDS) (4-item short form - GDS-4) to screen for depression in elderly primary care patients in Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study among 220 patients aged 60 or over attending 4 primary care clinics in Fortaleza city, Brazil. Those unable to answer the questionnaire because of impairments in communication skills were excluded. All included patients after completing the GDS form were submitted to the structured clinical interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM IV) which was used as gold-standard to establish the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. The outcomes were sensitivity; specificity; positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values; accuracy and likelihood ratio (LR) of a short version of the GDS (GDS-4). RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and LR of the GDS-30 were respectivelly 84,2% (68,1 - 93,4 = 95% CI), 74,7% (67,7 - 80,7 = 95% CI), 41% (30,2 - 52,7% = 95% CI) e 95,8% (90,6 - 98,3 = 95% CI). The accuracy and LR were respectivelly 3,9% and 76,3%. CONCLUSIONS: GDS is a useful tool in helping clinicians to screen for major depression in older primary care patients. The 4-item short-form (GDS-4) may be an alternative and more practicable screening tool to be routinelly used in primary care.</p

Epidemiology of falls in older adults in Brazil: an integrative literature review

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an integrative literature review on epidemiology of falls in older adults in Brazil, seeking to identify occurrence rate, recurrence, and potentially modifiable factors associated with these events. METHOD: This literature review consisted of searching the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (LILACS) databases for scientific articles on November 14, 2017. The following keywords were used for finding articles: “accidental falls,” AND/OR “elderly,” AND/OR “Brazil.” Epidemiological data were collected from primary studies and then compared. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies were selected. Most of them were performed in the Brazilian Southeast (15) and South (11) regions. The occurrence rate of falls ranged from 10.7 to 59.3%. The most common setting for falls was the home during daytime. The most commonly described circumstances were tripping, slipping, dizziness, and uneven flooring, resulting in falling from one's own height. The factors most frequently associated with falls were female sex, age greater than 80 years, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. The reported consequences were fractures and fear of falling again. CONCLUSION: As some factors associated with falls in older adults in Brazil are modifiable, fall prevention may reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.</p