Polypharmacy status and its related risk factors among elderly patients with dyslipidemia: Iranian multi-center...

Elderly patients with dyslipidemia are at higher risk of medication adverse effects and poor health outcomes due to polypharmacy. This study assesses polypharmacy status and its associated risk factors in elderly populations with dyslipidemia.

This cross-sectional population-based study analyzed data of elderly population (aged ≥ 60 years) from national Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS-2021). Polypharmacy and dyslipidemia were defined as ≥ 5 medications, and presence of any lipid abnormality or current use of lipid-lowering medications, respectively. Hypercholesterolemia was considered as total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, low High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol as < 40 mg/dL in male, and < 50 mg/dL in female, high Low-Density Lipoprotein- Cholesterol as ≥ 130 mg/dL, and hypertriglyceridemia as triglyceride ≥ 150 mg/dL in accordance with NCEP ATPIII guideline. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations and reported the results as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Among the 558 patients evaluated (mean age of 67 years), 55% were female, and 20.8% (95% CI: 17.2-24.9) were exposed to polypharmacy, which was more common in females than males (22.4% vs. 18.8%). The multivariable analysis identified higher AOR of polypharmacy in individuals with hypertension (AOR 2.3; 95%CI: 1.2-4.4), diabetes (2.8; 1.64-4.8), cardiovascular disease (3.2; 1.8-5.7), and urban residents (2.2; 1.2-4.0), whereas better self-rated health was protective (0.6; 0.4-0.9).

Our findings highlight the clinical complexity of this group and need for systematic medication review. Healthcare professionals should be trained about the potential negative effects of unnecessary prescriptions on health status of elderly populations with dyslipidemia.