Key result
Female sex is linked to ~51% higher polypharmacy prevalence among elderly individuals in Iran.
Why the study?
Older people are at risk for polypharmacy due to multiple chronic diseases, but information on the state of polypharmacy among the elderly in Amirkola, Iran, was lacking.
What is the prevalence of polypharmacy among the elderly in Amirkola, Iran?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,616)
No
What is the prevalence of polypharmacy among the elderly in Amirkola, Iran?
Odds Ratio: 1.51 (95% CI 1.1–1.93)
Absolute Event Rate: 32.7% vs 15.2%
Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among the elderly in northern Iran, particularly in women, with cardiovascular drugs being the most commonly used medication class.
Female sex linked to higher polypharmacy in Iranian elderly; hypothesis-generating for sex-specific deprescribing studies.
INTRODUCTION: Older people are at risk for polypharmacy due to multiple chronic diseases. Considering the lack of information in this regard, the aim of this study was to investigate the state of polypharmacy among the elderly in the city of Amirkola in northern part of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ≤ 0.05 was regarded significant. RESULTS: In this study, 1616 individuals including 883 men (54.6%) and 733 women (45.3%) were investigated. The average age of individuals was 69.37 ± 7.42. Among the investigated individuals, 526 including 368 men (41.7%) and 158 women (21.6%) consumed no medications. The prevalence of polypharmacy in this study was 23.1%, which was 32.7% in women and 15.2% in men (odds ratio = 1.51, 95% confidence interval: 1.10-1.93). The most prevalent group of medications used in both genders was cardiovascular drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the considerable prevalence of polypharmacy among the elderly, especially in aged women, serious efforts are required to manage polypharmacy. Provision of educational programs for physicians, personnel of pharmacies, and the staff of health-care centers in order for appropriate and safe consumption of medications in aged people is absolutely necessary.
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Zabihi et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional in Polypharmacy (n=1,616). Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on Prevalence of polypharmacy (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.10-1.93). Female sex was associated with a higher prevalence of polypharmacy compared to male sex (32.7% vs 15.2%; OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.10-1.93) among elderly individuals in Iran.
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