Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2006 , Vol 9, Issue 3
POLYPHARMACY IN NURSING HOME AND COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY
1Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Aile Hekimliği Anabilim Dalı, AYDIN
2T.C Emekli Sandığı İzmir Narlıdere Geriatrik Bakım Merkezi, İZMİR
Background and Aim: Polypharmacy is a common problem in elderly. The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare polypharmacy and related factors in nursing home and community dwelling elderly.

Materials and Methods: The total study population was 127 elderly. Randomly chosen 58 registered patients of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Umurlu Family Medicine out-patient clinic and 69 elderly living in Izmir Narlıdere Nursing Home were included in the study. Questionnaire regarding to demographic data, medical history, Katz daily living activities (ADL) and Lawton Instrumental daily living activities (IADL) scales were filled out by face to face interview and/or from clinic records.

Results: Mean age of the total group was 77.2 ± 7.9 years old. Twenty-eight elderly were totally dependent on daily living activities and all of these were elderly living in Nursing home. Mean medicine use was 4.5 ± 2.8 drugs. Daily living activities were more impaired in nursing home residents (p<0.01). Number of drug use was correlated with impairment in daily living activities (p=0.02). Polypharmacy was more common in Nursing home residents (p<0.01).

Conclusion: Polypharmacy is more common in nursing home than communitydwelling elderly. Polypharmacy is associated with impairment in daily living activities. Primary care and nursing home physicians should focus on preventing polypharmacy in elderly. Keywords : Community, Elderly, Nursing home, Polypharmacy, Daily living activities