Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T22:33:18.617Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prescription Drugs and the Elderly in B.C.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Jean D. Tuominen
Jean D. Tuominen
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Persons aged 65 and older comprise about 9–12% of the population of industrialized countries but consume 25–30% of prescribed drugs. This high consumption may be due to an increase in disease and chronic illness and/or the result of over prescription.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of prescription drugs by the population of B.C. aged 65 and older. Using B.C. Pharmacare data for 1984, the cost and number of prescriptions were analysed, comparing consumption by the mobile elderly with that of the elderly in nursing homes. Both populations were found to receive a high number of prescriptions per person, particularly in the Central Nervous System therapeutic class.

The results indicate the need for further study into the prescription of drugs for both elderly groups, but particularly those in nursing homes.

Résumé

Dans les pays industrialisés, les personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus représentent entre 9 et 12% de la population mais ils consomment de 25 à 30% des médicaments prescrits. Ce taux élevé de consommation pourrait être attribué à une augmentation de maladies générales et chroniques et/ou à une sur-médication.

Cette enquête visait à examiner l'emploi de médicaments d'ordonnance par les personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus en Colombie Britannnique. En se basant sur le B.C. Pharmacare 1984, le coût et le nombre d'ordonnances furent analysés, comparant la consommation des gens âgés indépendants à celle des vieillards demeurant dans des fovers d'accueil. Selon les résultats obtenus, un grand nombre d'ordonnances serait prescrit à chaque personne dans ces deux segments de la population, particulièrement au niveau de la catégorie thérapeutique du système nerveux central.

De plus, les enquêteurs conclurent qu'une étude plus approlondie sur la question de médicaments d'ordonnance prescrits aux membres de ces deux groupes serait bénéfique, s'attardant particulièrement sur les personnes qui habitent les foyers d'accueil.

Keywords

prescription drugsmedicationadverse reactionsBritish Columbiahealthcompliance
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 1988 , pp. 174 - 182
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES CITED

Alexander, Neil, Goodwin, James S., and Currie, Colin (1985), “Comparison of Admission and Discharge Medications in Two Geriatric Populations.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 33: 827–832.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berlinger, William G., and Spector, Reynold (1984). “Adverse Drug Reactions in the Elderly.” Geriatrics 39 (May):45–58.Google ScholarPubMed
Blaschke, Terrence F., Cohen, Stanley N., Tatro, David S., and Rubin, Peter C. (1981). “Drug-Drug Interactions and Aging.” pp. 11–26 in Clinical Pharmacology and the Aged Patient, edited by Jarvik, Lissy F., Greenblatt, David J., and Hárman, Denham. New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
British Columbia Pharmacare (1984). Processed prescriptions data, grouped by Plan. Victoria B.C.: Ministry of Human Resources.Google Scholar
Gehlbach, Stephen H., Wilkinson, William E., Hammond, William E., Clapp, Nancy E., Finn, Andrew L., Taylor, William J., and Rodell, Marjorie (1984). “Improving Drug Prescribing in a Primary Care Practice.” Medical Care, 22 (March): 193–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grossman Task Force on Human and Social Services (1986). Care for the Elderly: Developing a More Co-ordinated and Community-Based Approach. Toronto: The Progressive Conservative Caucus of Ontario, Queen's Park.Google Scholar
Grvfe, C.I, and Gryfe, B.M. (1984). “Drug Therapy of the Aged: The Problem of Compliance and the Roles of Physicians and Pharmacists. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 32 (April): 301–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarvik, Lissy F., Greenblatt, David J., and Harman, Denham (1981). Clinical Pharmacology and the Aged Patient. New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
Poe, William D., and Holloway, Donald A. (1980). Drugs and the Aged. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Schmucker, Douglas L. (1984). “Drug Disposition in the Elderly: A Review of the Critical Factors.” Journal of American Geriatrics Society 32, (February): 144–149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Skoll, S.L., August, R.J., and Johnson, G.E. (1979). “Drug Prescribing for the Elderly in Saskatchewan During 1976.” Canadian Medical Association Journal, 121 (October): 1074–1081.Google ScholarPubMed