Research Article

Medication Consumption Patterns and Polypharmacy among Community-Dwelling Elderly in Lomé (Togo) in 2017

Table 2

Medications consumption patterns of community-dwelling elderly in Lomé, Togo in 2017 (N = 370).

Total (N = 370)Male (N = 167)Female (N = 203)p value

Number of medications taken10.074
Median (IQR)2 (1–4)2 (1–4)3 (1–5)

Medications taken1, n (%)0.197
069 (18.6)37 (22.2)32 (15.8)
151 (13.8)21 (12.6)30 (14.8)
269 (18.6)36 (21.5)33 (16.2)
≥3179 (48.4)72 (43.1)107 (52.7)
MD2 (0.6)1 (0.6)1 (0.5)

Type of medication, n (%)
Conventional drug290 (78.4)127 (76.1)163 (80.3)0.083
Dietary supplement35 (9.5)16 (9.6)19 (9.4)0.124
Plants/Herbs53 (14.3)24 (14.4)29 (14.3)0.983

Self-medication, n (%)0.518
Yes249 (67.3)116 (69.5)133 (65.5)
No112 (30.3)46 (27.6)66 (32.5)
MD9 (2.4)5 (2.9)4 (2.0)

Concurrent use, n (%)
Yes63 (17.0)29 (17.4)34 (16.7)0.940
No306 (82.7)138 (82.6)168 (82.8)
MD1 (0.3)0 (0.0)1 (0.5)

IQR = interquartile range; MD = Missing data. 1Number of medications including medicinal herbs and dietary supplements. Mann-Whitney U test; Fisher’s exact test; Chi square test.