Older Aussie drug trends
January 16, 2012
THE use of multiple medicines in
older Australians is common and
more complex than previously
thought, according to a new study
by NPS undertaken in collaboration
with the University of Melbourne.
Published this week in the
Medicine Journal of Australia, the
study took a one day snapshot of
the medicine habits of Australians
aged 50 and over, and found that
87% of participants used at least
one medicine.
The use of multiple medicines on
the day that the snapshot was
taken was common with one third
of 50-64 year old participants and
almost half of 65-74 year olds.
Two thirds of people aged 75
were found to take five or more
medicines.
Overall, women were more likely
to be medicine users than men
(90.3% versus 83.9%).
Interestingly, researchers found
that the use of medicines by older
Australians for the modification of
health risks, disease prevention and
the improvement of wellbeing was
on the rise, with the most common
medicines used by participants
shown to be antihypertensives,
natural marine and animal
products (such as fish oil), and
lipid-lowering agents.
Meanwhile omega-3 fatty acids
(fish oil), paracetamol, aspirin and
glucosamine came out in the top
spots for the most commonly
taken active ingredients.
According to the study doctors
were responsible for 79.3% of all
medicines’ and 93% of conventional
medicines’ recommendations,
whilst about one in eight medicines
were first recommended by family,
friends or the media.
Of note, researchers found that
one in eight medicines purchased
by Australians aged 50 and over
were purchased from a
supermarket, health food store or
the internet rather than a pharmacy.
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