Polypharmacy in community-based older adults: results of the Fibra study

Abstract Objectives : To estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy among older adults (≥65 years); to verify its association with sociodemographic variables, nutritional status and health conditions; to describe the prevalence of polypharmacy according to the presence of specific chronic diseases, and to report the method of acquiring drugs. Method : A cross-sectional study was performed with older adults (n=2,217) from seven Brazilian municipal regions. The prevalence of polypharmacy and its 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Associations were verified using Pearson’s Chi-squared test with a significance level of 5%, and the independent associations between the selected variables and polypharmacy were verified by multiple hierarchical Poisson regression. Results : The prevalence of polypharmacy was 18.4% (CI95%:16.8-20.0), and was significantly lower among non-white individuals, those who did not have a health plan, and those who assessed their health as very good/good (p