Factors associated with high medication regimen complexity in primary care older adults in Brazil.

PURPOSE: Complex medication regimens are common among older adults and contribute to the occurrence of undesirable health outcomes. This study aims to investigate the factors associated with high medication regimen complexity in older people. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with older adults selected from two primary healthcare units. Medication regimen complexity was measured using the Brazilian version of the Medication Regimen Complexity Index. The Pearson's Chi square test was used to analyse the individual association of each independent variable with high medication regimen complexity. The backward stepwise method was used to obtain the final multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: We included 227 older adults with a median age of 70 years who were mostly females (70.9%). The median total Medication Regimen Complexity Index was 20.8 for high complexity and 10.5 for patients that were not using high complexity regimens. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index section with higher median scores in both groups was dosing frequency, followed by additional instructions. High complexity was associated with diabetes (OR 5.42; p = 0.00 2.69-10.93) and asthma/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (OR 2.96(1.22-7.18); p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Older people in primary care with diabetes and respiratory disease were most likely to have complex medication regimens. Dosing frequency and additional instructions were medication regime complexity index components that most contributed to the high complexity in medication regime of older adults.

Factors associated with the use of potentially inappropriate medications by older adults in primary health care: An analysis comparing AGS Beers, EU(7)-PIM List , and Brazilian Consensus PIM criteria.

BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) for the older adults are those with an unfavorable risk-benefit ratio when more effective and safe therapeutic alternatives are available and is an important public health problem. PURPOSE: To analyze the factors associated with the use of PIM by the older adults and to investigate the agreement of PIM use frequency using the 2015 American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults - 2015 AGS Beers Criteria, the Brazilian consensus on potentially inappropriate medication for older adults (BCPIM) and the European union list of potentially inappropriate medications - EU (7)-PIM List. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in two primary health care centers in southeastern Brazil. The 2015 AGS Beers Criteria, BCPIM, and EU (7)-PIM List were used for the classification of PIM. The association between PIM use and independent variables was assessed by multiple logistic regression. The level of agreement of PIM use among the three criteria was measured with the Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients ≥60 years of age were included in the study. The frequency of PIM use was 53.7% for 2015 AGS Beers, 55.9% for BCPIM and 63.4% for the EU (7)-PIM List. The agreement between 2015 AGS Beers and BCPIM and between this and the EU (7)-PIM List was high, and moderate between the 2015 AGS Beers and the EU (7)-PIM List. Logistic regression showed association of PIM use with polypharmacy, self-reported neuropsychiatric and musculoskeletal diseases, age ≤70 years, preserved cognition and positive self-perception of health. CONCLUSION: The frequency of PIM use by the older adults of health centers investigated is high. Strategies for improving the pharmacotherapy of the older adults in primary health care should be implemented.