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Cited by 996Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient OutcomesMedication Adherence and ComplianceChronic Disease Management Strategies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Use of Prescription and Over-the-counter Medications and Dietary Supplements Among Older Adults in the United States

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Dima Mazen Qato, G. Caleb Alexander, Rena M. Conti, Michael Johnson, L. Philip Schumm, Stacy Tessler Lindau·2008·JAMA
DOI 10.1001/jama.2008.892PMC PMC2702513
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Abstract

CONTEXT: Despite concerns about drug safety, current information on older adults' use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements is limited. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and patterns of medication use among older adults (including concurrent use), and potential major drug-drug interactions. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand five community-residing individuals, aged 57 through 85 years, were drawn from a cross-sectional, nationally representative probability sample of the United States. In-home interviews, including medication logs, were administered between June 2005 and March 2006. Medication use was defined as prescription, over-the-counter, and dietary supplements used "on a regular schedule, like every day or every week." Concurrent use was defined as the regular use of at least 2 medications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Population estimates of the prevalence of medication use, concurrent use, and potential major drug-drug interactions, stratified by age group and gender. RESULTS: The unweighted survey response rate was 74.8% (weighted response rate, 75.5%). Eighty-one percent (95% confidence interval [CI], 79.4%-83.5%) used at least 1 prescription medication, 42% (95% CI, 39.7%-44.8%) used at least 1 over-the-counter medication, and 49% (95% CI, 46.2%-52.7%) used a dietary supplement. Twenty-nine percent (95% CI, 26.6%-30.6%) used at least 5 prescription medications concurrently; this was highest among men (37.1%; 95% CI, 31.7%-42.4%) and women (36.0%; 95% CI, 30.2%-41.9%) aged 75 to 85 years. Among prescription medication users, concurrent use of over-the-counter medications was 46% (95% CI, 43.4%-49.1%) and concurrent use of dietary supplements was 52% (95% CI, 48.8%-55.5%). Overall, 4% of individuals were potentially at risk of having a major drug-drug interaction; half of these involved the use of nonprescription medications. These regimens were most prevalent among men in the oldest age group (10%; 95% CI, 6.4%-13.7%) and nearly half involved anticoagulants. No contraindicated concurrent drug use was identified. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of community-dwelling older adults, prescription and nonprescription medications were commonly used together, with nearly 1 in 25 individuals potentially at risk for a major drug-drug interaction.

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Metadata

Authors
Qato, D. M., Alexander, G. C., Conti, R. M., Johnson, M., Schumm, L. P., & Lindau, S. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Chicago (US)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Dima Mazen Qato
ORCID
Venue
JAMA
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2008-12-24
Volume
300
Issue
24
Pages
2867
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
DOI
10.1001/jama.2008.892
PMC
PMC2702513
OpenAlex
W1736805871
Semantic Scholar
68d9817d38ee67d7a584c4b941e4b4e70842f0b8
Cited by
995
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 75 · 2016: 82 · 2015: 83 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 69 · 2012: 78
FWCI
20.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (K08 HS15699-01A1, K08HS015699)
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG012857, R21AG049283, R01AG021487, K23AG032870)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Medication Adherence and Compliance
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Chronic Disease Management Strategies
Keywords
medication use, older adults, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, polypharmacy, concomitant medications, drug-drug interactions, gender differences, age differences, community-dwelling older adults, drug safety
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Drug Interactions, Drug Utilization, Nonprescription Drugs, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Comorbidity, Dietary Supplements, Prescription Drugs

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