Key result
Polypharmacy was significantly associated with the presence of frailty (OR 1.510; P<0.05) and chronic diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes in Chilean older adults.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to analyze the relationship between polypharmacy and variables such as frailty and other chronic comorbidities in Chilean older adults.
Is polypharmacy associated with frailty and chronic diseases in older adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,205)
Is polypharmacy associated with frailty and chronic diseases in older adults?
Odds Ratio: 1.51
p-value: p=<0.05
There is a strong, bidirectional relationship between polypharmacy and frailty, as well as significant associations with chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes in older adults.
Warrants frailty screening in older adults on multiple meds; leaves open causality and need for longitudinal confirmation.
AIM: To analyze the relationship between polypharmacy and variables as frailty and other chronic comorbidities in Chilean older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand two hundred and five older adults aged 65 and older. METHODS: The presence or absence of frailty syndrome was determined according to Fried criteria. Data collection was made through questionnaires conducted by an interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of polypharmacy was 37.59%. The prevalence of hyperpolypharmacy was 2%. Increased prevalence of frailty was demonstrated regarding the progression of the state of polypharmacy. When analyzing the contribution of frailty respect polypharmacy condition, frail state, nutritional risk and obesity are founded as a factor associated with polypharmacy. Regarding chronic disease, hypertension (OR: 8.039, p<0.0001), type 2 diabetes (OR: 4.001, p<0.0001) and respiratory diseases (OR: 2.930, p<0.0001) were associated to polypharmacy. It was found a strong and significant positive correlation between polypharmacy prevalence and frailty score (polypharmacy condition, Spearman R: 0.89, p=0.033; hyperpolypharmacy condition, Spearman R: 0.94, p=0.016). When analyzing the contribution of the polypharmacy to the presence of frailty, polypharmacy condition (OR: 1.510, p<0.05), cognitive impairment (OR: 3.887, p<0.001), obesity (OR: 1.560, p<0.01) and nutritional risk (OR: 2.590, p<0.001) are associated to frailty. CONCLUSION: Frailty and chronic conditions as nutritional risk, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and respiratory disease are an important risk factor for the development of polypharmacy in Chilean older adults. Likewise, polypharmacy condition was observed to be a risk factor for frailty, demonstrating the bidirectional relationship between both conditions. Frailty syndrome evaluation in Chilean older adults could be an important alternative for polypharmacy prevention.
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Arauna et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Polypharmacy and frailty (n=1,205). Polypharmacy was evaluated on Presence of frailty (OR 1.510, p=<0.05). Polypharmacy was significantly associated with the presence of frailty (OR 1.510; P<0.05) and chronic diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes in Chilean older adults.
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