Key result
Frailty in heart failure linked to ~87% higher odds of polypharmacy.
Why the study?
The association between polypharmacy and frailty in patients with heart failure was examined in this systematic review and meta-analysis.
Does the presence of frailty increase the risk of polypharmacy and total number of medications in patients with heart failure?
Meta-Analysis (n=10,649)
Yes
Does the presence of frailty increase the risk of polypharmacy and total number of medications in patients with heart failure?
Patients with heart failure and frailty have a significantly higher odds of polypharmacy compared to non-frail heart failure patients, even after adjusting for comorbidity status, highlighting the need for routine assessment of potentially inappropriate medications.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Polypharmacy review warranted in frail HF; confirms meta-analytic link but leaves independence from comorbidities open.
= 94%, P = 0.01), with a high degree of heterogeneity. However, results were non-significant after adjustment for comorbidity status. Patients with HF and frailty have a higher need of polypharmacy compared to those without frailty, which may increase the risk of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM). Investigating the real-world prevalence of PIM may support clinicians in their routine assessment as part of a comprehensive management strategy in patients with HF and frailty.
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Prokopidis et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Heart failure (n=10,649). Frailty vs. Patients with heart failure without frailty was evaluated on Prevalence of polypharmacy (defined primarily as ≥5 prescribed medications) (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.72-2.04, p=<0.01). Frailty in patients with heart failure was associated with a higher risk of polypharmacy compared to non-frail patients.
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