[Study of the pharmacotherapy prescribed for older-adult in a Brazilian long-term care facility]. / Estudo da farmacoterapia prescrita a idosos em Instituição Brasileira de Longa Permanência.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: this study evaluated the medication prescribed to older-adults residing in a long-term facility in the Brazilian Federal District. MATERIAL AND METHODS: social-demographic parameters as well the overall degree of disability and autonomy of the subjects were investigated. Regarding the pharmacotherapy, qualitative and quantitative aspects of the medication were assessed, including the mean number of drugs, most prescribed pharmacological classes and principles, appropriateness to the age strata and agreement to lists of essential drugs. RESULTS: in our setting, the female gender constituted a predisposing condition to an increased number of prescriptions, whereas polypharmacy and a favorable level of autonomy have played roles of main risk factors for the potential onset of drug-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: the occurrence of polypharmacy coupled to potentially serious problems related to these drugs allow to conclude that the pharmacotherapy employed for this group of older-adults present questionable therapeutical value, at least on what concerns some medications, prompting attention to the model of medical and pharmaceutical assistance provided for this population.