EVALUATION OF GERIATRIC PRACTICES: SURVEY OF 213 PATIENTS

Introduction: Ageing makes the elderly prone to illness and pathology. Polymedication and psychosomatic vulnerability are factors to be taken into account in geriatric assessment.

Materials and methods: Our study is epidemiological, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional, aiming at a global geriatric assessment at the pharmacy counter.

Results: Our 213 patients, aged between 50 and 93, were predominantly female, with a median age of 66. Arterial hypertension, metabolic diseases and mental activity disorders were common pathologies in our population. 84% of our patients were polypathological and 27% were polymedicated with 3 to 14 medications taken daily. 61% of our elderly subjects had medical coverage. 88% of patients were loyal to their treating physicians. Non-adherence, inappropriate prescriptions and self-medication were the most common medication problems in our study.

Conclusion: Our work highlights the complexity of the elderly person, which makes medical assessment in geriatrics a delicate and complex process compared with conventional medical assessment.