Una de las características por la que está discurriendo la transición demográfica en los países desarrollados y en muchos en vías de desarrollo es el envejecimiento poblacional. Esta situación se ha constituido en un problema de estado para estas naciones, dado que la vejez de sus habitantes o el aumento de la expectativa de vida, implica la falta de garantía de las medidas de contención socio-sanitaria para dicho conglomerado aging. Even with the current economic growth and the future. Take a look
point on the issue: the World Assembly on Ageing in 1982 and referred to the old world, referencing the equation that says that between 50 and 2025 the world population is multiplying by three, while the sector for older people is multiplied by five, with the proviso that in countries with economies dependent on these figures are higher in regard to older adults.
Population aging is felt in terms of its adverse effects on economic variables, finance, the epidemiological and social structure in various regions of our globalized world. In this respect our country's population over 65 years has been growing since 1895, was accentuated in the late 40, 70 and enhanced in becoming a palpable reality in recent decades. Together with Uruguay and Chile, Argentina integrates the trio of aging nations of the Southern Cone of America. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that this segment of the population in Latin America will grow by 138% with projection to 2020, which would mean 13 million elderly Argentines that date, the matter is estimated that more than a million compatriots have, and today, more than 80 years.
In 1995, the Institute for Retirees and Pensioners (INSSJP) conducted a study through the PAMI, on a sample of 1000 elderly, to identify gaps and consumption of health services in this sector of our population. Among the results was one that gained significant impact and is referred to the use of drugs. The investigation revealed that each of its affiliates
consumed an average of 9.6 medications. An alarming number of polypharmacy in generating prescriptive origins and iatrogenic addiction in the hands of seniors looking for the solution their ailments.
Where is the origin of this saturation of drugs in the elderly population? In principle we know that aging is a stage of life, from the standpoint of medical and psychological and traveling to various ailments in unison. Most elderly presents with a number higher than three diseases simultaneously detected and treated by health professionals. There are other overlapping disorders, and only displayed on the internal context of each individual, who decides explicitly or not. For the first illnesses that the appropriate drug treatment, for the second ... well. And in the latter instance is where the call comes in. " self-medication."
The known history afford to take a drug "per se" on the advice or recommendation of those who took the drug successfully is daily repetition. This leads to autorecetarse to millions of patients with known risks and produce more victims than people think. The source of the problem of self-medication has several aspects (family, friends, Internet, media, etc.) Which transforms the issue in a difficult situation to handle.
Take drugs account own, without supervision of the professionals involved, not only refers to drugs in the pharmaceutical industry but also to the intake of natural products or substances made by persons empirical matter. From there the danger and damage to health that this practice generates. This may account, in property, toxicology services of our health system. Another consequence of self-medication is masking of the disease, its chronicity and deterioration, resistance to drugs used or even lead to dependence. A typical example of this problem, referred to by pharmacologists, is insomnia, which account for people to revert and add medications and home remedies, which predispose to night falls, constipation or amnesic episodes. Timely consultation and sometimes a change in lifestyle and / or nocturnal habits, reverses the distressing picture, often with the help of a minimum dose of a rational and safe drug prescribed with scientific responsibility.
is to consider what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls "self-medication," saying that is the development of a drug previously prescribed by the doctor or dentist for a medical condition suffered by the patient and meets regularly therefore, how to combat . For the experts of WHO, is a valid formula in developed societies. Obviously there is a clear contrast this concept with what we discussed on the indiscriminate use of medication or drugs without indication or medical supervision.
Going to the point that moves us, the problem of self-medication becomes more worrisome in the elderly. Complicating the issue involves the fact that this practice unpredictable, their association with the old and the sum of a number of phenomena typical of this stage of life: Iatrogenic effects of polypharmacy, adverse reactions caused by the interruption in making a particular product and its replacement by another, failure therapy, etc.
Recent surveys in various European countries revealed that self-medication increases among older adults, more women and people of advanced education (those with university education are likely to self-prescription of drugs). It is also common in elderly people living alone and in urban areas but not in rural areas. Moreover, the WHO Regional Office for Europe (Copenhagen) has shown its concern by publishing two editions of Drugs for the Elderly (Drugs for the elderly), a manual makes explicit the medications can seriously affect older adults.
What is the strategy to be employed at such alarming picture? Educating and informing should be the pillars of it. Especially the further development of the agent responsible for prescribers (doctor or dentist) and even more so when our patients are older (it is usually the treating professional not ask them about their basic medication, that they take for their chronic diseases.) Therefore also the health team must be aware and informed about the treatment in the elderly. A challenge we must undertake.
Gerontofarmacología
source Dr. Oscar A.
Ojea, Medical Gerontologist http://www.fecliba.org.ar
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