Abstract
Objective: To verify the prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy among users of primary health care in a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study with data collection through the application of a questionnaire. Sociodemographic, health and behavioral aspects were evaluated. Descriptive statistics were performed, including prevalence calculation with a 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). Results: The prevalence of polypharmacy was 15.7%, 8% in adults up to 59 years old and 33% in the elderly. There was a significant association of polypharmacy with age, negative self-perceived health, depression, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis/arthrosis and no alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Polypharmacy is a frequent occurrence among primary care users, especially the elderly, and is associated with behavioral and health factors. These results reveal the need to implement strategies that alert the population to the appropriate use of medicines to reduce the risks of polypharmacy.