Abstract

GARCIA ORIHUELA, Marlene. Scientific evidence and preventive pharmacological intervention in geriatrics. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.4, pp.747-755. ISSN 0864-2125.

The older adults are a population group that increases every day and they require more medical care and consume a large number of drugs. This paper was intended to make a review on drug prescription for preventive purposes in the elderly on the basis of scientific evidence. The multiple drug consumption by the elderly increases the possibilities of suffering adverse reactions to drugs, potentially deleterious interactions, rise of admissions at hospital due to this problem and higher health expenses. The drugs are the first source of iatrogenic disorders in the aged people, often attributable to irrational and wrong practices of prescription without any sound scientific support. This paper was expected to contribute to developing the skill of prescribing a drug in an effective, convenient and prudent way, thus paying little attention to the market-biased recommendations in terms of therapeutics. It is important to improve drug prescription towards a better quality of life for the older people.

Keywords : scientific evidence; preventive drug prescription; geriatrics.

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