Abstract
Polypharmacy is a growing concern, impacting patient safety and healthcare costs. Monitoring its prevalence and temporal trends is essential for effective healthcare management. This study aimed to determine prevalence and trends of polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy in Belgium. Utilizing a federal claims database, medication data were analyzed from 2012 to 2021. Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications) and excessive polypharmacy (≥ 10 medications) were evaluated, with prevalence calculated per 1000 inhabitants, and reported per year, age group and region. Linear regression estimated the impact of age and year on polypharmacy prevalence. In 2021, polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy were reported in 135/1000 and 31/1000 Belgians respectively. Prevalence of both increased steadily from 2012 to 2021, with excessive polypharmacy rising more prominently. Among adults aged ≥ 65years, prevalence rates were higher, with polypharmacy at 434/1000 and excessive polypharmacy at 106/1000. Regional variations were observed, with prevalence highest in the Walloons region. Patient age and year (2012-2021) were associated with both polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy (p < 0.001). We observed increases in polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy over a decade in Belgium, particularly among older adults. Efforts to monitor, manage, and optimize medication use are imperative to ensure safe and effective healthcare delivery.
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