OUDEREN EN GECOMBINEERD GEBRUIK VAN GENEESMIDDELEN

The high prevalence of drug use among the elderly is a matter of great concern. However, data concerning the extent of multiple daily drug use in the ederly are virtually lacking. In this cross-sectional study the extent of multiple daily drug use is studied. The results show that more than 15% of people 65 to 75 years of age use more than four drugs a day, whereas this percentage increases to almost 30 in people older than 74 years. Most prominently, females were more liable to multiple drug use than males. With respect to the expected increased frequency of drug-drug interactions, the increased sensitivity for adverse drug reactions and the declined drug efficacy in the ederly, future research should focus on the type of combinations used and which of these combinations should be avoided to prevent patients from avoidable harm.