The impact of polypharmacy on health outcomes in the aged: A retrospective cohort study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317907
• Publication Date: 2025-02-03T18:54:30Z
• Authors: Irene Boateng; Carlos Rodriguez ...; Paul Grassby; Zahid Asghar; Kinda Ibrahim
• Keywords: patient Electronic Health Records; mortality among older adults; B200 - Pharmacology; Science; adverse drug reaction; Q; R; 610; B741 - Older people nursing; elderly aged; B701 - Palliative care nursing; toxicology & pharmacy; B702 - Clinical practice nursing; Polypharmacy; Hospitalisation; Falls in elderly; Medicine; CPRD; B210 - Pharmacology; Research Article

Objectives To estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy among community-dwelling adults in UK and determine its association with mortality, hospitalization, adverse drug reactions falls at one five years. also effect on outcomes different patient groups. Methods A retrospective cohort study was carried out using 1000 patients aged 75 years above from Clinical Practice Research Datalink. The periods for one- five-years analysis were January 2010-December 2010 2014 respectively. Sociodemographic clinical variables retrieved medical product codes. Polypharmacy defined as use or more medicines. between falls, reactions, hospitalization determined cox regression while confounding age, sex, Charlson’s comorbidity index, potentially inappropriate medicines, prior to study, study. Subgroup used Key findings 977 people reviewed. 36% male mean age 83 47%. Adjusted hazard ratios their 95% confidence intervals were: mortality 1.60 (1.30–2.00), 1.49 (1.30–1.70), (0.90–2.40) 0.97 (0.50–1.80). results one-year 2.37 (1.40–3.90), 2.47 (1.40–4.30), 0.37 (0.03–4.00). Conclusion found be a risk factor hospitalization. increased an increase medicines comorbidities.