Current and future perspectives on the management of polypharmacy

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Polypharmacy is rising due to aging populations and increased multi-morbidity.
• While beneficial for complex conditions, polypharmacy elevates the risk of adverse drug events, hospitalizations, and mortality.
• Robust systems for indication verification, patient education, and regular medication review are essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing challenge of polypharmacy in healthcare.
• To discuss current and future strategies for managing polypharmacy risks.
• To emphasize the need for evidence-based interventions to optimize medication use.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on polypharmacy trends and management.
• Analysis of the role of electronic health records (EHRs) in patient monitoring.
• Exploration of technological advancements and interprofessional collaboration in medication management.

Main Results:

• Electronic patient records enhance patient monitoring and identify high-risk individuals.
• Deprescribing, facilitated by EHRs, helps discontinue non-beneficial medications.
• Smartphone apps and future AI/clinical decision support systems show promise for improving medication management.

Conclusions:

• Technological advancements like EHRs and AI can significantly improve prescribing and reduce polypharmacy risks.
• The integration of non-medical professionals (pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants) is vital for optimizing medication regimens.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of new interventions, including technology and interprofessional models, on patients with polypharmacy.