The socio-economic, epidemiological and pharmaco-therapeutic profile of institutionalized elderly individuals in Brasilia, Brazil

The aim of this study is to describe the socioeconomic, epidemiological and pharmaco-therapeutic profile of 154 elderly individuals from five homes for the aged in Brasilia using a questionnaire adapted from the Dader method and supplemented with information from medical records. The sample is made up of single people and widowers, mostly men, mean age of 74.6 years, with preserved cognition, low income and low education level. The group consumes between four and five medicines and is mainly affected by cardiovascular and psychiatric diseases. The drugs most used are cardiovascular and psychotropic medication. The adherence to pharmacotherapy is prejudiced by lack of knowledge about current medical prescription, difficulty of access and refusal to use prescribed medicines. Results suggest that this profile influences the quality and effectiveness of pharmacotherapy showing the need for pharmacotherapeutic follow-up for these patients as well as public health policies more focused on the specificities of the elderly to provide better quality of life and reduction of costs with health assistance.