Does polypharmacy increase the risk of medication misadventure in older patients with atrial fibrillation?
Polypharmacy in older AF patients increases the risk of medication misadventure, highlighting the need for careful medication review in this vulnerable population.
Polypharmacy affects oldest AF patients, comprising medications that are indicated for AF, yet regarded as PIMs. Patients with lower risk of bleeding, obstructive pulmonary diseases, upper gastrointestinal diseases and poor physical function are also at higher risk of using higher number of medications. This may lead to an increased risk for medication misadventure due to the concomitant use of polypharmacy and medications for AF.
Wang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.