BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is a growing concern in the management of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as multiple comorbidities necessitate complex pharmacological regimens. However, excessive medication use has been associated with adverse drug reactions, medication non-adherence, and poor clinical outcomes. Understanding the impact of polypharmacy in patients with T2DM is essential for optimizing treatment strategies. METHODS: This nationwide, cross-sectional study analyzed data from a 2023 survey involving 4,956 patients with T2DM across Türkiye. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, diabetes-related complications, and laboratory parameters were compared between patients using 1-4 medications and those with polypharmacy. Logistic regression analysis identified independent predictors of polypharmacy. RESULTS: < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent in older adults with T2DM and is associated with an increased burden of complications. These findings highlight the importance of careful medication assessment in patients with T2DM with complex comorbidity profiles. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT06347445.
Ünal et al. (Wed,) studied this question.