Factors Associated with the Use of Over-the-Counter Medications in the Elderly Living Alone
10.22722/KJPM.2018.26.2.172
- Author:
Yeosong YOON
1
;
Ki Chung PAIK
;
Kyung Kyu LEE
;
Seok Bum LEE
;
Kyung Min KIM
;
Jung Jae LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. mdjjlee@dankook.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Over-the-counter drugs;
Nonprescription medications;
Elderly living alone;
Polypharmacy
- MeSH:
Aged;
Analgesics;
Cognition;
Comorbidity;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Depression;
Humans;
Logistic Models;
Mood Disorders;
Nonprescription Drugs;
Polypharmacy
- From:Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
2018;26(2):172-178
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and to identify predictors for their use in the elderly living alone. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,099 subjects. Data regarding socio-demographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder and use of OTC drugs were collected using self-administered questionnaire and from a specific semi-structured interview by a trained nurse. Data regarding use of OTC drugs were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine factors associated with the use of OTC drugs. RESULTS: The use of OTC drugs were reported by 35.4% of the subjects. Analgesics (13.6%) was the most frequent drugs. Depression (OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.10–1.87) and comorbidities measured by cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) (OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.03–1.12) were significantly associated with the use of OTC drugs in the elderly living alone. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and severity of underlying medical conditions could be a predictor of the use of OTC drugs in the elderly living alone. The clinicians should be vigilant regarding the potential use of nonprescription medications in the elderly.
