Caracterização das pessoas idosas com polifarmácia que acessaram um ambulatório de condições crônicas da região central do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Objective: to describe the profile of elderly people with polypharmacy who accessed a Chronic Conditions Outpatient Clinic for Adults and the Elderly, and to investigate the quality of the information system records. Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary data from a database regulating access to the Chronic Conditions Outpatient Clinic for Adults and Older People, in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, from September 2019 to September 2022. Results: 75.5% (n=987) of the 1,308 elderly people who accessed the outpatient clinic had polypharmacy, and of these, there was a predominance of females, aged between 60 and 69 years, white skin color, regularly using five to nine different medications and living in the Verdes Campos health region. In the Entre Rios health region, the municipality of Santiago stood out and in the Verdes Campos region, Santa Maria. With regard to behavioral factors and comorbidities, most had sufficient self-care, no target organ damage and did not use alcohol, other drugs or tobacco. Referrals were more frequent due to the combination of the International Classification of Diseases "Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus". There was a high level of incomplete information in five of the variables analyzed. Conclusion: the frequency of polypharmacy was high among those referred, which demands attention due to its possible harm to the elderly population.