What does this research mean for the field?

Polypharmacy is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly individuals, though it remains to be determined if it is a proximate cause or a marker of this risk. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine if polypharmacy is associated with increased risk of mortality in elderly individuals.

December 6, 2014GerontologyOpen Access

Polypharmacy in the Elderly: A Marker of Increased Risk of Mortality in a Population-Based Prospective Study (NEDICES)

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Why the study?

Is polypharmacy associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly persons?

Population

5,052 people aged 65 years and older from the Neurological Disorders in Central Spain population-based…

Comparison

Polypharmacy (≥6 drugs) vs Taking 1-5 drugs daily and nonmedicated (0 drugs)

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

median 6.5 years (up to 13.3 years)

Authors

CGCandelas GómezComplejo Asistencial Universitario de Palencia SVSaturio Vega-QuirogaJunta de Castilla y León FBFélix Bermejo‐ParejaBiomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases

Discussion

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Implication

Highlights polypharmacy as a strong prognostic marker in the elderly; leaves open whether this reflects.

Key Points

To determine if polypharmacy is associated with increased risk of mortality in elderly individuals.
Population-based, prospective study involving 5,052 individuals aged 65 and older
Medications were recorded, comparing polypharmacy (≥6 drugs) to those taking 1-5 drugs and nonmedicated individuals
Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for sociodemographics and comorbidities were utilized for analysis.
50.5% of participants died during the median follow-up of 6.5 years
Polypharmacy was associated with increased mortality risk (HR = 2.78, 95% CI: 2.36-3.27, p < 0.001)
Even after adjustments, those on polypharmacy had a significantly higher risk (HR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.51-2.21, p < 0.001).

Structured PICO

Is polypharmacy associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly persons?

Population

5,052 people aged 65 years and older from the Neurological Disorders in Central Spain (NEDICES) population-based prospective study

Intervention

Polypharmacy (≥6 drugs)

Comparator

Taking 1-5 drugs daily and nonmedicated (0 drugs)

Outcome

Risk of mortality up to 13.3 years laterhard clinical

Polypharmacy (≥6 drugs) is independently associated with an 83% increased risk of mortality in elderly individuals, though it remains unclear if it is a direct cause or a marker of underlying morbidity.

Limitations

The extent to which polypharmacy is the proximate cause rather than a marker of this increased risk remains to be determined

Cite This Study

Gómez et al. (2014) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1e7f2c74572fec719542bc https://doi.org/10.1159/000365328

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Polypharmacy in the Elderly: A Marker of Increased Risk of Mortality in a Population-Based Prospective Study (NEDICES)

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Polypharmacy in the Elderly: A Marker of Increased Risk of Mortality in a Population-Based Prospective Study (NEDICES)

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider