Key result
Using ≥10 medications is linked to ~135% more category D drug interactions versus 5-9 medications.
Why the study?
The study aimed to determine the prevalence, severity, and clinical outcomes of drug-drug interactions in patients aged 65 years and older with polypharmacy attending internal medicine outpatient clinics.
Does multipolypharmacy (≥10 drugs) compared to polypharmacy (5-9 drugs) increase the prevalence of severe drug-drug interactions and adverse clinical parameters in geriatric patients?
Observational (n=259)
No
Does multipolypharmacy (≥10 drugs) compared to polypharmacy (5-9 drugs) increase the prevalence of severe drug-drug interactions and adverse clinical parameters in geriatric patients?
Effect estimate: Relative increase 2.3-fold higher prevalence of category D interactions in multipolypharmacy group compared to polypharmacy group
Absolute Event Rate: 57.9% vs 24.6%
p-value: p=0.002
In geriatric patients, multipolypharmacy (≥10 medications) is associated with a significantly higher risk of severe drug-drug interactions and worse renal function compared to standard polypharmacy (5-9 medications).
May warrant deprescribing in geriatric patients with cardiovascular multimorbidity; extends evidence of heightened risks beyond standard polypharmacy.
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Tıraşçı et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Geriatric patients aged ≥65 years with polypharmacy (≥5 medications) attending internal medicine outpatient clinics (n=259). Patients using ≥10 medications had a 2.3-fold higher prevalence of clinically significant category D drug interactions (57.9% vs. 24.6%, p=0.002) compared to those using 5-9 medications.
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