POLIPHARMACY IN THE ELDERLY: THE IMPORTANCE OF PHARMACEUTIC ATTENTION IN GERIATRIC CARE

Abstract

In Brazil, life expectancy is approaching 80 and soon the number of elderly people will exceed the number of children and adolescents. Based on this information, the country will have a new age pyramid and challenges that are already part of the timetable that need to be met, such as raising the quality of public health. The aging process is caused by physiological changes, altering pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, resulting in the difficulty of positive results in therapeutic adherence. Other factors are important to assess, such as the increase in comorbidities in the elderly and the management of polypharmacy. It is increasingly common for the elderly to want to achieve greater autonomy in their daily lives, and unfortunately domestic accidents can cause falls and fractures, which is why the participation of the family and the inclusion of a good multi-professional team in the health care of the elderly are fundamental. As part of this multi-professional team, the clinical pharmacist is able to provide the patient with comprehensive care and monitor clinical progress.