To describe the patterns of drugs consumed by the male and female elderly living in Mexican private and public nursing homes.
Three hundred and fifty elderly participants from four nursing homes (2 private and 2 public) were selected for the six month study: 108 subjects were excluded; the remaining 242 were between 65 and 100 years old; 123 were females and 119 males. A complete clinical history was taken and clinical files were reviewed.
Of the 242 elderly studied, 193 took diverse medications and 28.5% were at risk of some type of drug interaction. The groups of drugs more frequently consumed were vitamins and anti-anemic medications, followed by cardiovascular drugs. Females consumed greater number of drugs. They also consumed more drugs simultaneously.
There is a need to monitor the elderly for their drugs pattern use.