VENCESLAU, E. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9339832585880669; VENCESLAU, Edilson Muniz.
Resumen:
lntroduction: In recent decades the elderly population has grown ata fast pace world. Brazil
follows this trend with approximately 14.5 million seniors corresponding 9.1% o f the general
population, and are projected to reach that statistic for 2025 to exceed more than 30 million
seniors. Demographic and epidemiologicaJ transitions constitute a progressive phenomenon,
whose chronic diseases are an important risk factor for the indiscriminate use of medicines by
this audience, making them more susceptible to adverse reactions, side effects and drug
interactions. Objective: To evaluate the use of drugs by elderly rcsidents in the urban arca of
Cuité- PB. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory-descriptive-observational and
quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 100 elderly user o f the municipality of Cuité
Family Health Strategy, whose data were presented descriptively in the form of graphs and
tables and analyzed by the literature. The work was approved by the Ethics and Research of
the University Hospital Alcides Carneiro (HUAC). Results: Most of the elderly patients aged
70-79 years (42%), female (71%), white (56%), married (36%) and family income below the
poverty levei (82%). Regarding clinicai aspects disclosed that the elderly population has on
average 3 diseases, with cardiovascular disease (58%) and diabetes mellitus (18%) the most
incidcnts. The widespread use of medications by the elderly referred to the class of analgesic
and anti-intlammatory (22%) and those pertaining to the cardiovascular system (17%). Most
seniors made six or more visits (52%) consumed five or more medications daily (37%)
through own funding (52%) andprescription (59%). Most generic drugs are consumed (41%)
and had packed correctly (68%). Most seniors did not report the presence of adverse reactions
(65%) and only 35% of them reported having received information about the risks of self-
medication and general care medicines. Among the professionals involved in care were
doctors (40%), pharmacists and nurses (25.7%). Conclusion: The unnecessary use of drugs is
a common practice in the population in general, however, the old public has become more
exposed to this type of practice as well as complications inherent to this excessive
consumption. In this sense, it is necessary that professionals can identify educational
strategies for health that may suppress unnecessary consumption among the elderly.