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Drug use by the elderly in general practice: effects on upper gastrointestinal symptoms

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of drug use by elderly outpatients in Italy and to identify the association between drug use and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Study design and setting

The study was carried out by 133 general practitioners (GPs) who referred to 24 geriatric units in Italy. All consenting elderly patients seen at the GPs’ offices were evaluated for gender, age, disability, current medications, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

Results

The study included 5,515 elderly subjects. The prevalence of drug use was 91.6%, and the mean number of drugs taken was 2.86 per person. Both the prevalence and the mean number of drugs significantly increased with advancing age. Regarding gastrointestinal symptoms, 32.7% of patients reported at least one upper gastrointestinal symptom: 25% with indigestion syndrome, 16.2% with abdominal pain, and 14.2% with reflux symptoms. A significantly higher prevalence of symptoms was observed in females, patients who were taking a higher number of drugs, and those who had higher disability. Adjusted multivariate analysis demonstrated that the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, steroids, psycholeptics, diuretics, selective β2 adrenoreceptor agonists or adrenergics, and antiplatelet drugs was significantly associated with upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

Conclusion

The prevalence of drug use is very high in this elderly outpatient population. The number of drugs and the use of some specific drug classes are significantly associated with the presence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant from the FIRI (Fondazione Italiana Ricerca sull’Invecchiamento), Florence, Italy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Unit, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, IRCCS, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

    Alberto Pilotto & Marilisa Franceschi

  2. Clinical Epidemiology Service, Fondazione Maugeri, IRCCS, Telese Terme, Italy

    Dino Vitale & Franco Rengo

  3. Romano di Lombardia and University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy

    Augusto Zaninelli

  4. Geriatric Unit, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy

    Giulio Masotti

  5. Geriatric Unit, University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy

    Franco Rengo

Authors
  1. Alberto Pilotto
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  2. Marilisa Franceschi
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  3. Dino Vitale
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  4. Augusto Zaninelli
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  5. Giulio Masotti
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  6. Franco Rengo
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Consortia

F.I.R.I. (Fondazione Italiana Ricerca Invecchiamento) and the SOFIA Project Investigators

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alberto Pilotto.

The SOFIA Project investigators

The SOFIA Project investigators

Coordinators/geriatric units

Annoni Giorgio (Monza), Barbagallo Mario (Palermo), Bavazzano Antonio (Prato), Bernabei Roberto (Roma), Biagini Carlo (Pistoia), Cucinotta Domenico (Bologna), Franceschi Marilisa (Vicenza), Guizzardi Giuseppe (Pescara), Granchi Fabrizio (Piacenza), Laguzzi Enzo (Alessandria), Masotti Giulio (Firenze), Maugeri Domenico (Catania), Mazzei Bruno (Cosenza), Nicita Mauro Vittorio (Messina), Nieddu Antonio (Sassari), Noro Gabriele (Trento), Olivari Giuseppe (Venezia), Palummeri Ernesto (Genova), Pilotto Alberto (San Giovanni Rotondo), Policicchio Domenico (Avellino), Postacchini Demetrio (Fermo), Putzu Paolo (Cagliari), Rengo Franco (Napoli), Tardi Salvatore (Matera)

General practitioners

Abbiati Carla, Alpa Aldo, Antiga Ivo, Antonina Maria Rita, Arnaboldi Leonardo, Ballotti Emanuela, Bargellini Nadia, Barisone Giorgio, Battelli Marco, Beccari Gizela, Bitetti Erasmo, Bologni Anna, Bongera Patrizia, Bortot Mario, Bracalenti Luigi, Buonono Giuseppe, Busolo Mirco, Campanini Maria Cristina, Caputo Ludovica, Cartei Alessandro, Cascavilla Paolo, Casciaro Luciano, Casula Eleonora, Cesarone Lucia, Chiesa Damiano, Chiumeo Francesco, Ciciarello Antonio, Cimenti Tullio, Cincotta Gaetano, Corò Gianni, Corona Sergio, Corsini Marco, Cosola Cristoforo, Dainese Antonio, Danza Matteo, De Bastiani Rudy, De Cesare Pasqualina, De Facci Giuseppe, De Lorenzo Roberto, De Vuono Antonio Domenico, Della Piccola Paolo, D’Errico Giovanni, Di Benedetto Giorgio, Dodaro Maurizio, Ercolino Maria, Fatarella Paolo, Fazzari Felice, Fiorese Giampiero, Foco Giuseppe, Formicola Giuseppe, Franchi Fabrizio, Fronges Daniele, Gaetano Maria Assunta, Giordano Gabriella, Guarino Mario, Guasti Daniela, Kuel Albino Mayom, Kusanovic’ Marija, Lanzavecchia Daniela, Lofiego Maria Cristina, Lorenzano Elettra, Losi Cristiano, Magrini Fabrizio, Mancini Nicola Maria, Mander Alessandro, Manneschi Mirko, Marchi Riccardo, Maronato Gianni, Marsala Valerio, Mascia Raffaele, Matuonto Vincenzo, Mauceri M. Lucia, Mazzi Pier Alvise, Mezzapica Antonino, Mochi Francesco, Molenda Grazia, Morelli Franco, Morsia Davide, Mosna Maria Clara, Muglia Antonio, Murgia Paolo, Muscetta Maurizio, Muscetta Stelio, Nucci Pietro, Olimpi Giovanni, Orro Walter, Poletto Cristina, Palmieri Isabella Pia, Pastacaldi Guido, Pastori Caterina, Pieresca Gabriele, Pietragalla Mario, Pilo Sebastiano, Poggesi Sonia, Poli Luca, Ricciardi Antonietta, Riggi Vito, Romano Vincenzo, Rossi Tolmino, Saccarello Alberto, Salatino Ada, Salvati Roberto, Sannino Antonio, Santelli Mario, Santucci Adolfo, Saponaro Guido Maria, Schergna Aldo, Schiavone Ciro, Sammarco Renato, Scornavacca Giovanni, Serena Daniela, Silvino Giuseppe, Sistilli Lucia, Soldan Stefano, Soro Aldo, Tatti Romano, Tempestini Laura, Testini Domenico, Tibeloli Carnevali Andrea, Toniolo Barbara, Torselli Roberto, Tremul Luca, Trevisan Francesco, Trifilò Placido, Valente Salvatore, Vannucchi Carlo Enrico, Vencato Paola, Vigotti Glauco, Virdis Gavino, Zaccaro Francesco, Zanzot Stefano, Zingone Filippo Mario Pio, Zirillo Anna Maria.

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Pilotto, A., Franceschi, M., Vitale, D. et al. Drug use by the elderly in general practice: effects on upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 62, 65–73 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-005-0027-5

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