[Prevalence of polypharmacy among the population older than 65 years in Spain: Analysis of the 2006 and 2011/12 National Health Surveys]

Abstract

Introduction: Polypharmacy in older people is the result of several inter-connected factors, and is very common despite the associated risks. Not many population-based studies have been conducted in Spain to ascertain the magnitude of polypharmacy in this population.

Material and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with individualised data for non-institutionalised older people (65 or older) of both sexes from the Spanish National Health Surveys (SNHS) 2006 (N=7,835) and 2011/12 (N=5,896). The prevalence of polypharmacy (use of 4 or more drugs within the 2 weeks preceding the survey) was ascertained for the 2 surveys used, as well as by sex and age groups. The prevalence of use of the different drug groups was also estimated in the elderly who used polypharmacy.

Results: Polypharmacy occurred in about a third of the older people in the 2006 SNHS (32.54%), and was significantly higher in the 2011/12 SNHS (36.37%) (P<.05). In both surveys, the prevalence of polypharmacy was higher in women than men and among the older individuals (≥85 years) compared to the less old. The type of drugs most commonly used were analgesics (2006 SNHS: 71.93%, 2011/12 SNHS: 76.27%; P<.05), and antihypertensive drugs 2006 SNHS: 70.26%, 2011/12 SNHS: 78.10%; P<.05).

Conclusions: The magnitude of polypharmacy is considerable in older people and increasing over time. Further research on this issue is needed to identify those individuals who are at higher risk of using multiple drugs concomitantly.

Keywords: Encuesta Nacional Salud; España; National Health Survey; Older people; Personas mayores; Polifarmacia; Polypharmacy; Spain.