WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Manjula G, Bhanu LP*, Kishore KV, Joel K, Sravan S, Priyank T, Kumaraswamy M

ABSTRACT

Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the problems and diseases of old age and aging people. Indian elderly constitute 12.8% of the global elderly population. The elderly usually have multiple medical problems, requiring prescription drugs to treat diseases and to prevent complications arising from them. The elderly use more medications than any other age group. This high rate of drug use has been attributed in part to the accumulation of disease with ageing. Objective: Thus the current study aimed to assess the drug use pattern in elderly by understanding age-related changes in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics factors which helps to achieve better health care. Method: This was a prospective and observational study conducted over a period of 6 months from January 2013 to June 2013 by using a well designed and validated patient data collection form to collect the study data. Result: The number of drugs prescribed during this study was 1-2 number of drugs (0.0%), 3-5 number of drugs (22 patients i.e., 24.4%), 6-10 number of drugs (56 patients 62.2%) and >10 number of drugs (12 patients i.e., 13.3%). Conclusion: The current study concluded with an association between the practice of polypharmacy and drug-related problems mainly ADRs and Drug interactions. Clinical pharmacist intervention can help the prescriber in selecting a regimen which contains a lesser number of drugs to prevent the occurrence of drug-related problems.