Abstract
Background
Prescription of medications for elderly individuals is complex, potentially involving polypharmacy, drug interactions, and inappropriate medication. Notable among the medications are benzodiazepines, whose long-term use is common and growing among the elderly population.
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of potential drug interactions (PDI) in elderly community-dwelling patients who use benzodiazepines.
Method
Cross-sectional study, conducted via household survey, with 73 elderly persons in Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. The search and classification of PDIs was carried out using the Micromedex® system.
Results
The prevalence of benzodiazepine use in this population was 18.3% (95% CI, 15.2-21.6). The use of benzodiazepines was associated with polypharmacy (p<0.01; PR 3.03; 95% CI, 1.79-5.26). A total of 157 PDI occurrences were found in 69.9% of the elderly people assessed. Of these, 25 were related to benzodiazepines. In the elderly individuals who use benzodiazepines, polypharmacy was associated with PDI (p<0.01; PR = 16.13; 95% CI, 4.67-55.55). PDI occurrence was high in the elderly people who use benzodiazepines, including interactions of highly significant clinical value.
Conclusion
In general, PDI is associated with polypharmacy, which demonstrates the need to rationalize drug use in the elderly population through continuous monitoring, seeking the simplest and safest possible therapeutic regimen.
Keywords:
aging; drugs interactions; drug utilization
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