Studies from Federal University Have Provided New Information about Chronic Disease (Polypharmacy and Polymorbidity in Older Adults in Brazil: a…

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Studies from Federal University Have Provided New Information about Chronic Disease (Polypharmacy and Polymorbidity in Older Adults in Brazil: a public health challenge)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Investigators discuss new findings in Disease Attributes - Chronic Disease. According to news originating from Sao Paulo, Brazil, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "To analyze variations in the prevalence of chronic use of medicines by older adults in Brazil according to its possible association with the most prevalent chronic diseases and demographic and health factors, and to identify risk factors for polypharmacy. A study based on data from the National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines (PNAUM), a cross-sectional, population-based survey with probability sampling in Brazilian urban areas."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Federal University, "The independent variable was the number of chronic-use medicines taken by older adults, linked to eight chronic diseases investigated. The intervening variables were gender, age group, marital status, level of education, socioeconomic status, Brazilian region, body mass index, smoking, self-perceived health, hospitalization in the previous year and having health insurance, besides the investigated chronic diseases. A multivariable analysis identified risk factors for polypharmacy. Prevalence of at least one chronic-use medicines among older adults was 93.0%. Of the total number of older adults, 18.0% used at least five medications (polypharmacy). Polypharmacy was higher among the oldest individuals (20.0%), in the South region (25.0%), in those with poor self-perceived health (35.0%), in obese individuals (26.0%), in those with reported health insurance (23.0%) or hospitalization in the previous year (31.0%), and among those who reported any of the investigated diseases, particularly diabetes (36.0%) and heart diseases (43.0%). The variables remaining in the final risk model for polypharmacy were age, region, perceived health, health insurance, hospitalization in the previous year and all investigated diseases except stroke. Older adults with specific diseases have risk factors for polypharmacy modifiable by actions aimed at the rational use of medicines."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "With the current population aging and successful drug access policy, the trend is an increase in drug use by older adults, which should feature as a priority in the planning agenda of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)."

For more information on this research see: Polypharmacy and Polymorbidity in Older Adults in Brazil: a public health challenge. Revista De Saude Publica, 2016;50():59-70. Revista De Saude Publica can be contacted at: Revista De Saude Publica, Faculdade Saude Publ Da Usp, Av Dr Arnaldo 715, 01246-904SP Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from L.R. Ramos, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept. of Prevent Med, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Additional authors for this research include N.U.L. Tavares, A.D. Bertoldi, M.R. Farias, M.A. Oliveira, V.L. Luiz, T.D. Dal Pizzol, P.S.D. Arrais and S.S. Mengue.

Keywords for this news article include: Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America, Risk and Prevention, Epidemiology, Pathologic Processes, Drugs and Therapies, Disease Attributes, Health Insurance, Chronic Disease, Public Health, Polypharmacy, Federal University.