USE OF MEDICATION AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ATTENDED AT PRIMARY HEALTH CARE UNIT IN DIAMANTINA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL, 2011

Abstract

This study aims to characterize the access and use of medications among elderly enrolled in a Primary Health Care Unit in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Descriptive study with elderly (aged 60 years or older) enrolled in a health unit in the period January to December 2011, with the realization of home interviews and application of semi-structured and standardized questionnaires. The average of medications consumed was 2.6 per elderly and polypharmacy was evidenced in 18.3% of cases. 82.5% of prescription medications were free provided in the public system of municipality, and 64.2% of these were for the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular medications were the most commonly used class (diuretic and rennin-angiotensin system with 61.3%). Thus the results of this study were comparable to those found in other research on medications use of drugs by elderly, confirming the importance the using of medicines in the elderly health care.