Another problem of the elderly
Elderly patients often take incompatible medications
ABC Magazine based on materials from Oregon State University: One in five older Americans take medicines that work against each otherNo one gets healthier with age, and, as a rule, chronic diseases accumulate.
According to various estimates, about three quarters of elderly patients suffer from several chronic diseases at the same time. Most often these are coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis and others. In modern therapy, the predominant approach involves the appointment of individual drugs for each pathological condition. It is not an accident that when taking several drugs at the same time, problems with their compatibility arise. A typical example: a patient suffers from both coronary heart disease and COPD. With coronary heart disease, beta-blockers are often prescribed, which increase the resistance of the respiratory tract and worsen the course of COPD. Of course, not all beta blockers have such an effect, but it is not uncommon for dangerous varieties to be prescribed.
Researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine conducted a study among 5,815 patients aged 65 years and older. In this group, 14 of the most typical chronic diseases were selected and a list of medications was revealed. A total of 27 classes of drugs turned out. Analysis of drug instructions, guidelines for the treatment of diseases and available data on special studies showed that 55.5% of the recommended drugs have the ability to worsen the course of other diseases. Among all participants, 1,313 people (27.5%) took drugs incompatible with each other. 753 people (13%) took several such medications at once. If we consider the example already mentioned, then among 846 people with coronary heart disease and COPD found among the respondents, non-selective beta blockers were prescribed in 16.2% of cases.
Dr. Mary E. Tinetti, the head of the study, notes that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The use of multiple medications can lead to an aggravation of common side effects, such as dizziness, anorexia, fatigue, and others. Among all the surveyed patients, only 16% of cases were found when incompatible medications were canceled. The remaining patients continued treatment according to the original plan. One of the co-authors of the work, David Lee from the University of Oregon (Oregon State University), notes that doctors are aware of the problem, but do not know how to solve it. Drugs are really very much focused on specific diseases, and currently there are a lot of diseases and a lot of drugs to thoroughly know all the nuances of drug interactions. To find a solution, we need a serious assessment of the situation and additional research, it is necessary to involve the professional community.
Article by Lorgunpai et al. Potential Therapeutic Competition in Community-Living Older Adults in the U.S.: Use of Medicines That May Adversely Affect a Coexisting Condition is published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru17.03.2014