Prevalence of Poly pharmacy among the Elderly residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF), Tehran, 2010-2011

To identify the prevalence of polypharmacy (concurrent use of 5 or more medications) and the most frequent medications and medication groups used by the elderly residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF).

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 237 elderly residents of KCF (134 female)، aged 60 or more، who have been taking care since the spring of 2010. A randomized cluster sampling was done. Polypharmacy was defined as concurrent use of 5 or more medications، prescribed or non-prescribed، excluding locally effective and «PRN» drugs. Classification of medication groups was based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system. The SPSS software was applied for descriptive analysis.

Mean number of drugs used for any resident was 5. 10 (±3. 22). Prevalence of polypharmacy was 52. 3%. The most frequent used medications among attendants were Calcium-Vit. D، Nitrocantin (Glyceryl Trinitrate)، and Atenolol، and in polypharmacy group were Calcium-Vit. D، Nitrocantin، and Aspirin. The most frequent medication groups used by both، the attendants and polypharmacy groups، were Cardiovascular drugs، Nervous system drugs، and Alimentary/Metabolism drugs.

The mean number of drugs used for any resident and prevalence of polypharmacy was high among the elderly residents of KCF.

More pharmaco-epidemiological studies should be conducted to assess drug use status in Iranian elderly people، specially nursing homes residents، and guidelines should be presented for decreasing the incidence and prevalence of polypharmacy in this population.