Polypharmacy in elderly patients: Treatment adherence

Abstract

Introduction: In recent decades, the number of elderly people has increased significantly in western societies, resulting in a high prevalence of chronic diseases and, therefore, in increased polypharmacy. In addition, established therapies are frequently complex, many times leading to therapeutic incompliance, which comprises a frequent therapeutic-related problem that may prejudice the treatment outcome. Objectives: To evaluate the levels of adherence to therapy in people over 60 years who evidence polypharmacy, identifying the factors affecting adherence levels. Methodology: Population-based, transversal and exploratory study, by questionnaire application. Sample: 51 polymedicated individuals (minimum four prescribed medicines) from a daily center located in the city of Olhão, with minimum age of 60 years. Diagnostic of, at least, one pathology treated since a minimum of six months. Assessed variables: social-demographic data, administration difficulties and amount of medicines administered daily. Results: The sample was composed of approximately 70% female and 30% male, with ages between 64 and 98 years (mean of 80 years). It was observed that all the individuals were adherent to therapy, although with different adherence levels, 94% of the whole sample being completely or very adherent to the therapy. Amongst all the studied variables, it was found that only marital status and oblivion, as a problem associated to therapy administration, affected adherence levels. The results allowed concluding that, with high probability, the fact that the elderly people were at a daily centre, led to higher therapeutic adherence.