Volume 26, Issue 122, April 2022

Polypharmacy usage among elderly population attending at primary health care centers in Buraidah city, Saudi Arabia 2020

Muhannad Fahad Al Sahli^1♦, Ali Mosa AlHarbi²

¹Family Medicine R4 Resident, Family Medicine Academy, Qassim Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Qassim Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
²Trainer at Family Medicine Academy, Qassim Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Qassim Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Family Medicine R4 Resident, Family Medicine Academy, Qassim Health Cluster, Qassim Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Saudi Arabia has a large proportion of elderly population related with multiple continual illnesses who need increase Interest and tracking for their medicinal drugs. Objectives: Assessing the prevalence and utilization of medicines for elderly population and the way to provide better health-care management. Methods: A cross-section study between December 2019 to December 2020 on PHCC in Buraidah above age of 60 years and taking 5 or more medication individuals visiting to the Primary Health Care Centre by Questionnaire form to assess polypharmacy usage. Necessary statistical tests were applied. Results: Polypharmacy (PP) was 57% among elderly subjects who were using 5 drugs or more. Males, lower educational level and suffering from 2 or more chronic diseases have been notably associated with increased levels of PP. Most of the subjects had good knowledge regarding the drugs. Conclusion: High prevalence of poly pharmacy among geriatric patients was associated to severity of multiple diseases, patient's older age and male gender. Health promotional measures to reduce chronic diseases incidence in the population is required.

Keywords: Polypharmacy, elderly, primary healthcare centers, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms132e2141

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i122/ms132e2141

Published: 12 April 2022