Characterization of the prescription drugs for elderly in the public health care of Jataizinho, Parana State, Brazil, 2008/Caracterizacao das prescricoes de medicamentos a idosos no servico publico de saude do municipio de Jataizinho, Estado do Parana, 2008

This study aimed to analyze the drug prescriptions for older users of the Public Health of the city of Jataizinho, Parana State, Brazil. For this, the indicators of drug prescription suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) were used as parameters. In addition, the drugs prescribed were classified according to the WHO's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification. In the total of prescriptions analyzed (723), 1220 drugs have been identified, and the average of drugs per prescription was 1.7. Among these drugs, 86.5% were prescribed by generic name. Of the prescriptions assessed, 8.7% contained antibiotics, and 1.4%, injectables. 94.1% of prescription drugs belonged to the municipal list of medicines, and 81.1% were included in the national list of essential medicines. The most prescribed drugs were related to the cardiovascular system, alimentary tract and metabolism, and nervous system. With these results, it was noticed that most of the indicators observed encompasses the WHO recommendations. Also, the majority of drugs prescribed are in accordance with the main diseases that affect the elderly people and may contribute to support the development of local lists of essential drugs. Keywords: prescription indicators, primary health care, secondary health care, old age assistence, health services. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as prescricoes de medicamentos a idosos usuarios do Sistema Publico de Saude do municipio de Jataizinho, PR. Para isso, utilizaram-se como parametros os indicadores de prescricao medicamentosa sugeridos pela Organizacao Mundial da Saude (OMS). Alem disso, os medicamentos prescritos foram classificados de acordo com a Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification, tambem da OMS. No total de prescricoes analisadas (723), foram identificados 1.220 medicamentos, sendo a media de medicamentos por receita de 1,7. Dentre estes medicamentos, a porcentagem prescrita pelo nome generico foi 86,5%. Das receitas avaliadas, 8,7% apresentavam antibioticos e 1,4% injetaveis. Pertenciam a relacao municipal de medicamentos 94,1% dos medicamentos prescritos, e 81,1% constavam na relacao nacional de medicamentos essenciais. Os medicamentos mais prescritos foram os pertencentes ao sistema cardiovascular, trato alimentar e metabolismo, e sistema nervoso. Com a obtencao desses resultados, percebeu-se que a maioria dos indicadores observados contempla as recomendacoes da OMS. Tambem, a maior parte dos farmacos prescritos esta de acordo