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Clinical consequences of polypharmacy in elderly.
Robert L Maher1, Joseph Hanlon, Emily R Hajjar
1Duquesne University, Pharmacy , 321 Bayer Building, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15209 , USA maher@duq.edu.
Expert Opinion on Drug Safety
|October 1, 2013
Summary
Polypharmacy is prevalent in older adults, with nearly half using unnecessary medications. Interventions can reduce inappropriate prescribing, though health outcome results vary.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Polypharmacy, the use of multiple or unnecessary medications, is a significant concern for the elderly population.
- A literature review was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for studies published between 1986 and 2013.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the prevalence and consequences of polypharmacy in older adults.
- To examine interventions aimed at improving medication management in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of major medical databases.
- Analysis of studies focusing on individuals aged over 65 years.
- Categorization of findings into prevalence, consequences, and interventions.
Main Results:
- Polypharmacy is widespread among older adults, particularly those in nursing homes.
- Approximately 50% of older adults are prescribed at least one medication that is not medically required.
- A strong link exists between polypharmacy and adverse clinical outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Interprofessional interventions, often involving clinical pharmacists, can effectively reduce unnecessary medication use in high-risk older patients.
- While interventions show promise in curbing inappropriate prescribing, their impact on broader health outcomes is mixed.
- Further research is needed to optimize interventions for improved distal health outcomes in polypharmacy management.
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