Читать книгу Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Группа авторов - Страница 80

By 2033, it is estimated 20% of the UK population will be 65 or over. Currently 60% of prescriptions from community pharmacists in the UK are for the elderly, a trend that is likely to rise. Evidence‐based medicine has led to an increased prescription of medications intended for prognostic benefit. With an increased prevalence of chronic disease in the elderly, this has resulted in polypharmacy. This poses a new challenge for prescribers.

Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and activity all change with age, but the presence of multiple pathologies frequently has a greater effect than ageing alone.

Adverse effects from medications are three times as likely in the elderly than in the general adult population. Unwanted side effects in this population are more often dose related than idiosyncratic and attributable to altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The highest incidence of side effects documented is caused by some of the most commonly prescribed drugs including sedatives, diuretics and NSAIDs.