Prevalence and Risk Factors of Polypharmacy among Elderly Patients

Abstract

Background: Medications play a key role in the treatment and prevention of disease. There are a variety of medical conditions and diseases that cannot be controlled treated or prevented solely by the use of one medication. This will mandate polypharmacy which is the use of more than one medication or a combination of drugs. Polypharmacy can cause many complications, the most important are drug-related problems that should be taken under consideration. Objectives: Our aim in this prospective cross-sectional study is to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy among selected elderly patients and to investigate the factors associated with polypharmacy use. The patient is considered to be exposed to polypharmacy if he is on five concurrent medications or more for the management of chronic diseases. Methods: Data collection was done by targeting elderly patients in the internal medicine ward of Azadi Hospital utilizing a structured data collection form which is specially designed to fit the goals of this study. Results: To estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy, the frequency and proportion (%) were presented. The Chi-square test was used to investigate the factors associated with polypharmacy. Significant p-value set at < 0.05. Polypharmacy prevalence indicates that 27% (n= 53) of elderly patients were receiving more than five medications for chronic use. Heart diseases are the most common to be followed by hypertension and diabetes subsequently. Diabetes mellitus has shown the highest association with polypharmacy compared to the other factors. The Chi-square test result for this risk factor is χ2 = 6.76., df = 1, p < 0.05. To be followed by heart diseases, and age. Other factors have no association with polypharmacy according to our current study results. Conclusion: An approach or care plan should be developed in all health care settings to decrease the exposure of elderly patients to poly-pharmacy. Reducing polypharmacy should focus on the groups that are most prone to it. According to our research results, elderly people and those who are being treated with drugs for cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are of high priority.