Table 1 Characteristics of the study population
From: Polypharmacy in older patients: identifying the need for support by a community pharmacist
MD (%) | Patients (n = 1370) | |
|---|---|---|
Age, years [mean ± SD] | 0.6 | 81.5 ± 5 .7 |
Living alone at home [n(%)] | 0.9 | 659 (48.5%) |
Home help [n(%)] | 1.5 | 592 (43.8%) |
Falls (≥ 1 in the previous 12 months) [n(%)] | 3.0 | 685 (51.5%) |
Difficulty walking [n(%)] | 45.7 | 492 (66.1%) |
Recent weight loss [n(%)] | 2.2 | 319 (23.8%) |
Hospitalization in the previous 6 months [n(%)] | 1.2 | 321 (23.7%) |
Self-reported medical history | 3.1 | |
Dementia [n(%)] | 74 (5.6%) | |
Dyslipidemia [n(%)] | 652 (49.1%) | |
Diabetes [n(%)] | 445 (33.5%) | |
Heart failure [n(%)] | 320 (24.1%) | |
Myocardial infarction [n(%)] | 186 (14.0%) | |
LEAOD [n(%)] | 108 (8.1%) | |
Chronic kidney failure [n(%)] | 74 (5.6%) | |
Other [n(%)] | 1034 (77.9%) | |
Number of medications taken daily [mean ± SD] | 11.5 | 9.3 ± 3.2 |
Number of OTC medications taken daily [median (IQR)] | 28.6 | 0 [0; 1] |
Self-reported adverse events [n(%)] | 1.7 | 566 (42.0%) |
Self-medication [n(%)] | 1.6 | 426 (31.6%) |
Knowledge of what the medications are for | 2.6 | 1084 (81.3%) |
Familiarity with medications | 11.9 | |
Familiarity with < 25% [n(%) | 108 (8.9%) | |
Familiarity with 25–50% [n(%)] | 102 (8.5%) | |
Familiarity with 50–75% [n(%)] | 187 (15.5%) | |
Familiarity with ≥ 75% [n(%)] | 810 (67.1%) | |
French health insurance adherence questionnaire | 2.0 | |
Good adherence [n(%)] | 608 (45.3%) | |
Minor adherence problems [n(%)] | 616 (45.9%) | |
Poor adherence [n(%)] | 118 (8.8%) | |
Difficulties in preparing or administering medications [n(%)] | 0 | 378 (27.6%) |
Difficulties in preparing [n(%)] | 4.2 | 164 (12.5%) |
Difficulties in administering [n(%)] | 3.3 | 130 (9.8%) |
Difficulties in swallowing [n(%)] | 1.2 | 154 (11.4%) |