Journal article
Use of medications by persons 65 and over : data from the established populations for epidemiologic studies of the Elderly
Journal of gerontology, Vol.47(5), pp.M137-M144
1992
DOI: 10.1093/geronj/47.5.m137
PMID: 1512428
Abstract
Data were analyzed from household interviews of four population-based cohorts comprising the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly to estimate the prevalence of prescription and nonprescription medication use among community-living elderly and to examine sociodemographic and health factors related to medication use. Prescription drugs were used by 60-68% of men and 68-78% of women. Nonprescription drugs were used by 52-68% of men and 64-76% of women. Use of prescription medications generally increased with age although use of nonprescription drugs was not associated with age. Men and women who smoked or used alcohol in the preceding year frequently took medications. Those who reported more depressive symptoms, impairments in physical functioning, hospitalizations, and had poorer self-perceived health status were most likely to take medications. However, 10-29% of respondents with fair or poor self-perceived health took no prescription medications, and 3-13% took neither prescription nor nonprescription medications. While further research appears warranted into potential overmedication of elders, particularly those with many depressive symptoms, these data suggest that studies of potential underuse among elders with poor health are equally important
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Use of medications by persons 65 and over : data from the established populations for epidemiologic studies of the Elderly
- Creators
- Elizabeth A Chrischilles - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesDaniel J Foley - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesRobert B. Wallace - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesJon H Lemke - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesTodd P Semla - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesJoseph T Hanlon - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesRobert J Glynn - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesAdrian M Ostfeld - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United StatesJack M Guralnik - Univ. Iowa, dep. preventive medicine environmental health, Iowa City IA 52242-1008, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of gerontology, Vol.47(5), pp.M137-M144
- DOI
- 10.1093/geronj/47.5.m137
- PMID
- 1512428
- NLM abbreviation
- J Gerontol
- ISSN
- 0022-1422
- eISSN
- 2331-3323
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 1992
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacy; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984214692402771
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