TY - JOUR
T1 - Duplicate use of angiotesin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in a community-dwelling elderly population in Poland
AU - Rajska-Neumann, A.
AU - Wieczorowska-Tobis, K.
AU - Schulz, M.
AU - Breborowicz, A.
AU - Grzeskowiak, E.
AU - Oreopoulos, D. G.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - In this paper the data on the duplicate use of ACE inhibitors among a community-dwelling elderly population are presented. Using a questionnaire, 1000 subjects were interviewed concerning the use of drugs, 654 females, mean ± SD age: 72.6 ± 6.5 years. They were divided into two groups: Group A (5%) taking at least two ACE inhibitors (n = 50) and Group B: those who used either a single ACE inhibitor or no ACE inhibitor (n = 950). In Group A, 49 individuals were taking two different ACE inhibitors concomitantly and one was using three. The most commonly used ACE inhibitor was enalapril (29 of 50 subjects). Subjects in Group A consumed significantly more drugs, both of prescription (Rx) and nonprescription (OTC), compared to those in Group B (total means: 8.4 ± 2.8 vs. 6.7 ± 3.2; p < 0.01, Rx means: 6.3 ± 2.5 vs. 5.2 ± 2.8, p < 0.05, OTC means: 2.0 ± 1.6 vs. 1.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.05). Also, they were more likely to have consulted a cardiologist (17/50 vs. 201/950, p < 0.05). The duplicate use of ACE inhibitors in 5% of a population of community-dwelling elderly patients seems to be caused by both poor doctor-doctor communication and polypharmacy. This phenomenon could possibly be dangerous especially when potential additive adverse effects are taken into account.
AB - In this paper the data on the duplicate use of ACE inhibitors among a community-dwelling elderly population are presented. Using a questionnaire, 1000 subjects were interviewed concerning the use of drugs, 654 females, mean ± SD age: 72.6 ± 6.5 years. They were divided into two groups: Group A (5%) taking at least two ACE inhibitors (n = 50) and Group B: those who used either a single ACE inhibitor or no ACE inhibitor (n = 950). In Group A, 49 individuals were taking two different ACE inhibitors concomitantly and one was using three. The most commonly used ACE inhibitor was enalapril (29 of 50 subjects). Subjects in Group A consumed significantly more drugs, both of prescription (Rx) and nonprescription (OTC), compared to those in Group B (total means: 8.4 ± 2.8 vs. 6.7 ± 3.2; p < 0.01, Rx means: 6.3 ± 2.5 vs. 5.2 ± 2.8, p < 0.05, OTC means: 2.0 ± 1.6 vs. 1.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.05). Also, they were more likely to have consulted a cardiologist (17/50 vs. 201/950, p < 0.05). The duplicate use of ACE inhibitors in 5% of a population of community-dwelling elderly patients seems to be caused by both poor doctor-doctor communication and polypharmacy. This phenomenon could possibly be dangerous especially when potential additive adverse effects are taken into account.
KW - ACE inhibitors
KW - Duplicate use of antihypertensive drugs
KW - Inappropriateness of treatment
KW - Polypharmacy
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U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.039
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.039
M3 - Article
C2 - 17317465
AN - SCOPUS:33847197949
VL - 44
SP - 295
EP - 301
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
SN - 0167-4943
IS - SUPPL.
ER -