Análise de prescrições medicamentosas de idosos em Unidade Básica de Saúde da Família no município de Natal-RN

Abstract

The elderly are becoming an increasing class within the general population.This term paper aimed to analyze the prescriptions of medicines for the elderly patients, users from the Family Health Strategy Unit (UESF). It was identified the most prescribed medicines, prevalent clinical indications and also the presence of the following items on the prescription: medicines dose, dosage and period of treatment. The method used was a qualitative and quantitative study realized in the UESF‘s pharmacy, located in the city of Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, through the analyses of medicines prescriptions to the elderly public. A total of 2,401 prescriptions were issued by the pharmacy during the period of the study, 200 being for the elderly public, representing 8.3% of the totality. Results: Among the most prescribed medicines are: Insulin (n=58); Simvastatin (n=41); metformin hydrochloride (n=29); Acetylsalicylic acid (n=24); Losartan potassium (n=24); Paracetamol (n=23); Loratadine (n=21); Hydrochlorothiazide (n=15); Diclofenac sodium (n=13) and Alendronate sodium (n=13). The main clinical indications identified according to the most prescribed medicine classes were respectively: Diabetes mellitus; Arterial hypertension; Coronary diseases including hyperlipidemia; Inflammation, allergy and rheumatism; Pain and fever; Prevention of Cerebral Vascular Accident and Encephalic Vascular Accident; and Infections. Medicine doses were informed in 99.4% of the amount of prescriptions analyzed, while the dosage was included in 100% of prescriptions. Treatment duration was informed in 43.9% of prescriptions. Conclusion: through prescriptions evaluation it is possible to obtain relevant health information about the public served. Elderly patients who had their prescriptions analyzed are mostly affected by chronic diseases that involve the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.