Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
11:17
Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
Published on: August 30, 2018
13.5K
The epidemiology of polypharmacy
1Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK r.payne@bristol.ac.uk.
Clinical Medicine (London, England)
|October 5, 2016
Summary
Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications, is common in aging populations but linked to adverse outcomes. This review defines polypharmacy and explores its challenges in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple medications, is prevalent in modern healthcare.
- Driven by an aging population, increased multimorbidity, and evidence-based guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define polypharmacy and its scope.
- To examine medication use patterns across different settings.
- To identify adverse outcomes associated with polypharmacy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing data.
- Analysis of medication use in various patient populations and healthcare settings.
Main Results:
- Polypharmacy is a widespread phenomenon.
- Identified significant associations between polypharmacy and adverse health outcomes.
- Highlighted the complexity of medication management in multimorbid patients.
Conclusions:
- Polypharmacy presents a growing challenge in clinical practice.
- Understanding definitions and consequences is crucial for patient safety.
- Further research is needed to mitigate risks associated with polypharmacy.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
53
Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
53
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
339
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
339
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
93
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
93
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
787
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
787
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
291
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
291
01:23Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance
835
The elimination half-life and drug clearance of drugs following nonlinear kinetics can vary with dosage. The Michaelis-Menten parameters and drug concentration influence these factors. As the dose increases, the elimination half-life tends to lengthen, resulting in a reduction in clearance and a disproportionately larger area under the curve. The total clearance can be derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation for drugs following a one-compartment model.
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
835