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March 8, 2017PLoS ONEOpen Access

Prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults in multi-ethnic Malaysia

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Authors

LLLi Min LimNational University Hospital MMMegan McSteaDepartment of Health and Aged Care WCWen Wei ChungUniversity Malaya Medical Centre

Discussion

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Implication

Cohort study finds widespread polypharmacy and elevated adverse drug interactions in older adults on chronic medications, highlighting the need for routine medication reviews.

Key Points

To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults receiving chronic medications.
Baseline cross-sectional analysis of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research cohort involving 1,256 community-dwelling adults aged ≥55 years taking ≥1 chronic medication for at least 3 months.
Home visits and structured questionnaires were used to review all taken medications, with polypharmacy defined as taking ≥5 medications including dietary supplements.
Multivariate regression models evaluated risk factors and associations with health outcomes, including falls, functional disability, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs), healthcare utilisation, and quality of life.
Polypharmacy was present in 45.9% of participants, and 56.9% were dietary supplement users, across a cohort with a median age of 69 years (interquartile range: 63–74).
Risk factors independently associated with higher medication counts included advancing age, male sex, Indian ethnicity, dietary supplement use, and comorbidities involving cardiovascular, endocrine, or gastrointestinal disorders.
Polypharmacy was significantly associated with higher rates of potentially inappropriate medication use, potential drug-drug interactions, and increased healthcare utilisation.

Cite This Study

Lim et al. (2017) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a11ea9af7bd4f5c7da58ea0 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173466

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Implication

Cohort study finds widespread polypharmacy and elevated adverse drug interactions in older adults on chronic medications, highlighting the need for routine medication reviews.

Prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults in multi-ethnic Malaysia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults in multi-ethnic Malaysia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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