Gender difference in drug use in hospitalized elderly patients.

Purpose The aims of this study were to evaluate whether or not there are gender differences in drug use at hospital admission and prescription at discharge and to evaluate the effect of hospitalization on medication patterns in the elderly. Method In-patients aged > 65 years included in the REPOSI registry during a recruitment period of 3 years (2008-2010-2012) were analyzed in order to evaluate drug use at hospital admission and prescription at discharge according to gender. Results A total of 3473 patients, 52% women and 48% men, were considered. Polypharmacy (> 5 drugs) is more frequent in men both at hospital admission and discharge. At hospital discharge, the number of prescripti…