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Polypharmacy in elderly patients.

Emily R Hajjar1, Angela C Cafiero, Joseph T Hanlon

  • 1Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.

The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
|January 9, 2008
PubMed
Summary
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Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications in older adults, is increasing and linked to health risks. Few studies effectively reduce this, highlighting the need for healthcare provider vigilance.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple or unnecessary medications, is prevalent in the elderly population.
  • This practice poses significant risks for morbidity and mortality in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe observational studies on the epidemiology of polypharmacy in the elderly.
  • To review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at reducing polypharmacy in older adults over the past two decades.

Main Methods:

  • Searched MEDLINE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1986-June 2007) for studies on individuals aged over 65.
  • Utilized keywords such as 'polypharmacy,' 'multiple medications,' 'elderly,' and 'geriatric.'
  • Conducted manual searches of reference lists, author files, and reviews to identify relevant studies measuring polypharmacy.

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Main Results:

  • Polypharmacy is a growing issue and a recognized risk factor for adverse health outcomes.
  • Limited rigorously designed intervention studies have demonstrated success in reducing unnecessary polypharmacy in older adults.
  • The review identified 5 articles, all indicating improvements in polypharmacy management.

Conclusions:

  • Numerous studies link medication numbers to negative health outcomes, necessitating further research into the consequences of unnecessary drug use in the elderly.
  • Healthcare professionals must proactively assess all medications at each patient visit to mitigate the risks of polypharmacy.