Abstract
Introduction: The elderly population has grown significantly, especially those aged 80 or older, the octogenarians 1,2 . In this context, coupled with the increase in chronic conditions, a high prevalence of medication use is observed among this age group 1,3 . Objective: Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacoepidemiological profile of octogenarians treated at a geriatrics outpatient clinic of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) located in Espírito Santo. Material and Method: This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative-quantitative approach, carried out between May 2023 and April 2025. Elderly people (EP) aged 80 or older treated at the SUS specialty outpatient clinic located in the interior of Espírito Santo were included in the study. After the geriatric medical consultation, the patient was referred to pharmaceutical care, where sociodemographic information, health history, and medication use data were collected. The data were documented using a form adapted from the Dáder Method for pharmacotherapeutic monitoring. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee, according to opinion no. 6.071.609. Results and Discussion: 62 octogenarians were attended, representing 38% of the pharmaceutical care provided in the geriatrics outpatient clinic, with an average age of 86 years, the majority being women (66%). During the pharmaceutical care, it was observed that the most prevalent health problems were: hypertension (89%), dyslipidemia (49%), diabetes (43%), pain (23%), neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders (18%). To treat these conditions, an average of 8 medications per patient were prescribed, and 92% used 5 or more medications. The most commonly used pharmacological classes to treat such health problems were: antihypertensives (32%), antidepressants (13%), analgesics (12%), hypoglycemic agents (11%) and for gastrointestinal disorders (10%), lipid-lowering agents (8%), and other centrally acting medications (8%). The most frequently used medications were: hydrochlorothiazide (9%), losartan (8%), metformin (6%), sertraline and dipyrone (5%). Most respondents stated they were familiar with their medication therapy (68%), however, 48% reported some medication-related problem (MRP), the most prevalent being: non-adherence (35%), administration errors (30%), self-medication (14%), among other causes (22%). Conclusions: It was observed that most octogenarians have a high burden of chronic conditions, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Polypharmacy is a reality in this group, who use medications to control cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as mood disorders. Although most patients reported knowing their medication therapy, drug-related problems (DRPs) were frequent, mainly non-adherence. Given the accelerated aging of the population, it is imperative to implement health promotion strategies aligned with the needs of octogenarians. In this context, pharmacists should develop practices aimed at promoting the rational use of medications, contributing to the quality of life of older adults, especially octogenarians.
