Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study
Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study
Author(s):Dr. Ambika Abhishake
Received: 2026-05-11
Accepted: 2023-06-09
Published: 2023-06-26
Abstract
Background: Polypharmacy, most commonly defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, is highly prevalent among older adults and is associated with adverse drug events, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use, falls, hospitalization, and mortality.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and patterns of polypharmacy and to identify factors associated with polypharmacy among elderly patients attending the geriatric and general medicine outpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over six months among 400 patients aged ≥65 years. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and current medications were collected through patient interviews and review of prescriptions and medical records. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥5 medications and hyperpolypharmacy as ≥10 medications. PIMs were identified using the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria (2019). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of polypharmacy.
Results: The mean age of participants was 72.4 ± 6.1 years; 54.5% were female. The mean number of medications per patient was 5.8 ± 3.1. Polypharmacy was present in 57.5% of patients and hyperpolypharmacy in 11.5%. The most frequently prescribed drug classes were antihypertensives (68.5%), antidiabetic agents (46.5%), and statins (42.0%). At least one PIM was identified in 31.5% of patients. Age ≥75 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.10; 95% CI 1.32–3.34), presence of ≥3 comorbidities (aOR 4.62; 95% CI 2.85–7.49), recent hospitalization (aOR 2.45; 95% CI 1.41–4.26), and consultation with multiple prescribers (aOR 1.98; 95% CI 1.24–3.16) were independently associated with polypharmacy.
Conclusion: Polypharmacy affected more than half of the elderly outpatients studied and was strongly driven by multimorbidity and fragmented prescribing. Routine medication review, application of explicit prescribing criteria, and structured deprescribing should be integrated into geriatric care.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and patterns of polypharmacy and to identify factors associated with polypharmacy among elderly patients attending the geriatric and general medicine outpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over six months among 400 patients aged ≥65 years. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and current medications were collected through patient interviews and review of prescriptions and medical records. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥5 medications and hyperpolypharmacy as ≥10 medications. PIMs were identified using the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria (2019). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of polypharmacy.
Results: The mean age of participants was 72.4 ± 6.1 years; 54.5% were female. The mean number of medications per patient was 5.8 ± 3.1. Polypharmacy was present in 57.5% of patients and hyperpolypharmacy in 11.5%. The most frequently prescribed drug classes were antihypertensives (68.5%), antidiabetic agents (46.5%), and statins (42.0%). At least one PIM was identified in 31.5% of patients. Age ≥75 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.10; 95% CI 1.32–3.34), presence of ≥3 comorbidities (aOR 4.62; 95% CI 2.85–7.49), recent hospitalization (aOR 2.45; 95% CI 1.41–4.26), and consultation with multiple prescribers (aOR 1.98; 95% CI 1.24–3.16) were independently associated with polypharmacy.
Conclusion: Polypharmacy affected more than half of the elderly outpatients studied and was strongly driven by multimorbidity and fragmented prescribing. Routine medication review, application of explicit prescribing criteria, and structured deprescribing should be integrated into geriatric care.
Keywords: Polypharmacy; Elderly; Aged; Potentially inappropriate medications; Beers Criteria; Deprescribing
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