Background: To ascertain the use of drugs among the non-institutionalised elderly population, the factors related to polypharmacy and pinpointing the relationship thereof with chronic diseases.
Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological study by means of door-to-door survey. The population systematically selected totalled 960 individuals age 65-93. The questionnaire included demographic data, self-assessed health condition, quantitative and qualitative aspects of the use of medications, chronic diseases and assessment of functional ability.
Results: 91.62% of those surveyed were taking medication, a greater number of females (p < 0.002) than males. The medications taken to the greatest extent were blood pressure drugs (42.4%), analgesics (38.7%) and heart drugs (24.8%). Drugs were used to a greater extent among the oldest age group (p < 0.0001), those having the lowest educational level (p < 0.001), those with impaired eyesight and hearing (p < 0001), those having the lowest social status (p < 001), more contacts with the health care services (p < 0001), worse self-assessed health condition (p < 0001), a greater number of chronic diseases (p < 0.0001) and depressive disorders (p = 0.004). The linear regression analysis revealed a positive relationship between the number of medications taken and the number of chronic diseases (r = 0.518; p < 0.0001). Females report worse health conditions (p < 0.05). The variables analyzed with regard to polypharmacy by means of logistic regression are age (over age 75; OR = 1.1478), three or more chronic diseases (OR = 1.83) and poor self-assessed health condition (OR = 1.22).
Conclusions: Physical checkups on the elderly must include a review of the medications being taken, especially among those over age 75 who have a worse self-assessed health condition and a larger number of chronic diseases.