Polipharmacy and medication non-adherence are problems faced frequently in the treatment of elderly patients. An exploratory cross-sectional study and quantitative approach were conducted to assess the frequency of treatment-adherence in elderly and how polipharmacy can affect adherence. Four hundred and sixty six elderly answered a questionnaire in Porto Alegre, RS in individual interviews. The adherence frequency found was 173 (37.1%) and was higher among those, who use less medication. These results indicate the need for implementing educational programs for the elderly in order to help them to follow their drug therapy.

The elderly population is one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the world. Physiological alterations induced by the aging process make these individuals more susceptible to chronic diseases and, consequently, to increased drug utilization.ObjectiveTo describe the profile of drug utilization in the elderly living in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.MethodsAn observational and cross-sectional population-based study to investigate the characteristics of the population, sources of information and types of drugs used by the elderly was performed. Four hundred and eighty patients were recruited from data supplied by the City Hall of Porto Alegre. The elderly were interviewed individually during the period from January to May 2006 by trained interviewers. A validated pharmacotherapy questionnaire was used for data collection and data were tabulated and analyzed by the SPSS 11.5 computer program.ResultsOf the 480 patients interviewed, 13.8% did not use any medication. Cardiovascular system drugs represented the pharmacological class most used by the elderly (64.0%). When ill, 71.9% of these individuals visited the doctor, while 36.9% self-medicated. For the majority (50.2%), drugs were identified by their labels. Only 41.2% of the elderly understood medical prescriptions and 68.3% of the patients studied obtained the necessary information for the appropriate use of therapy from their doctors.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that a pharmaceutical care program for the treatment, prevention, and use of medications may provide a higher efficiency to elderly drug therapy.

Objective: To describe the use of CNS drugs and to identify the most frequently observed potential drug interactions in the elderly living in Southern Brazil. Methods: A population-based, transversal and observational study was carried out during [2006][2007]. Four hundred and eighty elderly individuals of both genders were randomly recruited and interviewed. A validated pharmacotherapeutic questionnaire and the Micromedex ® Healthcare Series were utilized to analyze potential drug interactions. A severity rating scale employing the categories of "mild", "moderate" and "severe" was used to describe the interactions. Results: A population of elderly living in Southern Brazil was interviewed and 98 reported using CNS drugs, 74.5% female and 25.5% male. Out of these patients, 32.0% reported severe or moderate pharmacological interactions related to the use of other drugs. Alprazolam and imipramine were reported to potentially interact with tobacco. Twenty potential moderate drug/ethanol interactions were found. The potential drug/caffeine interactions were classified as mild on the severity scale. Conclusion: Elderly being prescribed drugs that act on the CNS should be closely monitored, and furthermore, should be warned against potential drug-drug, drug-ethanol, and drug-tobacco interactions. Uniterms:Elderly. Drug-Drug interactions. Central nervous system. Tobacco. Ethanol.Objetivo: Descrever o uso de medicamentos que atuam no sistema nervoso central (SNC) e identificar as possíveis interações mais frequentes com esses medicamentos em idosos do sul do Brasil. Métodos: Estudo de base populacional, transversal e observacional, realizado durante [2006][2007]. Quatrocentos e oitenta idosos de ambos os sexos foram randomizados e entrevistados. Foram utilizados um questionário farmacoterapêutico validado e o programa Micromedex® Healthcare Series para analisar as potenciais interações com os medicamentos. Foi utilizada uma escala para descrever a gravidade das interações nas categorias de "leve", "moderada" e "grave". Resultados: A população idosa, moradora do sul do Brasil, que utilizava medicamentos para o SNC, era formada por 98 pacientes, 75,5% mulheres e 25,5% homens. Destes pacientes, 32,0% apresentaram interações farmacológicas graves ou moderadas relacionadas com a utilização de outros medicamentos. Alprazolam e Imipramina, usados pela população, apresentaram riscos de potenciais interações com tabaco. Foram encontradas vinte potenciais interações moderadas medicamento/etanol. As potenciais interações medicamento/cafeína foram classificadas como leves. Conclusão: Os pacientes idosos deveriam ser rigorosamente monitorizados, e ainda, é necessário advertir quanto às potenciais interações de medicamentos que atuam no SNC com outros medicamentos, etanol e tabaco. Unitermos:Idosos. Interações medicamento-medicamento. Sistema nervoso central. Tabaco. Etanol.