Cohort profile: the Dynamic Analyses to Optimize Ageing (DYNOPTA) project
Cohort profile: the Dynamic Analyses to Optimize Ageing (DYNOPTA) project
Date
2009
Authors
Anstey, Kaarin Jane
Byles, Julie E
Luszcz, Mary Alice
Mitchell, Paul
Steel, David
Booth, Heather
Browning, Colette
Butterworth, Peter
Cumming, Robert G
Healy, Judith
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Abstract
Self-medication among the study respondents ranged from 18% to 36% between 1992 and 2004. The most frequent classes of complementary and alternative medicines were vitamins and minerals, herbal medicines and nutritional supplements, with younger individuals and women more likely to use them. For over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, the most commonly used were analgesics, laxatives and low-dose aspirin. Use of OTC medicines seemed to be done in accord with indications officially approved by the Australian medicine agency. Future work should examine risks associated with the concomitant use of complementary and alternative medicines, prescription and OTC medicines.
Description
Keywords
Medicinal drug use,
Elderly people,
Ageing populations,
Australia
Citation
Anstey, K.J., Byles, J.E., Luszcz, M.A., Mitchell, P., Steel, D., Booth, H., Browning, C., Butterworth, P., Cumming, R.G., Healy, J., Windsor, T.D., Ross, L., Bartsch, L., Burns, R.A., Kiely, K., Birrell, C.L., Broe, G.A., Shaw, J., and Kendig, H., 2009. Cohort profile: the Dynamic Analyses to Optimize Ageing (DYNOPTA) project. International Journal of Epidemiology, 39(1), 44-51.