Abstract

Objective: To analyze polypharmacy prevalence and associated factors in older adults living in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil, in 2014. Methods: This was a cross-sectional population-based study using complex sampling with older adults. Polypharmacy was defined as concomitant use of five or more medications. Results: Polypharmacy prevalence was 14.9% (95%CI 11.8; 18.6), positively associated with females (OR=2.29 - 95%CI 1.41; 3.74), white race/skin color (OR=1.61 - 95%CI 1.10; 2.38), dependence (OR=1.65 - 95%CI 1.05; 2.60), change in eating habits/dieting (OR=1.66 - 95%CI 1.16; 2.36), hospitalization in the last 12 months (OR=1.61 - 95%CI 1.02; 2.53) and presence of the following self-reported morbidities: systemic arterial hypertension (OR=2.40 - 95%CI 1.33; 4.34), diabetes mellitus (OR=2.17 - 95%CI 1.23; 3.84), osteoporosis (OR=2.92 95%CI 1.84; 4.64) and heart problems (OR=2.94 - 95%CI 1.90; 4.56). Conclusion: This study found that polypharmacy in the older adults was associated with demographic and health conditions.