Polypharmacy in Polish Older Adult Population—A Cross-Sectional Study: Results of the PolSenior Project

Agnieszka Neumann-Podczaska, Slawomir Tobis, Demetra Antimisiaris, Malgorzata Mossakowska, Monika Puzianowska-Kuznicka, Jerzy Chudek, Lukasz Wierucki, Piotr Merks, Barbara Wizner, Malgorzata Sobieszczanska, Zofia I. Niemir, Beata Kaczmarek and Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis
Additional contact information
Agnieszka Neumann-Podczaska: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Slawomir Tobis: Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Demetra Antimisiaris: Frazier Polypharmacy Program, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
Malgorzata Mossakowska: International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
Monika Puzianowska-Kuznicka: Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
Jerzy Chudek: Department of Internal Medicine and Oncological Chemotherapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-027 Katowice, Poland
Lukasz Wierucki: Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
Piotr Merks: Collegium Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland
Barbara Wizner: Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
Malgorzata Sobieszczanska: Department and Clinic of Geriatrics, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-369 Wroclaw, Poland
Zofia I. Niemir: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
Beata Kaczmarek: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Polypharmacy is a challenging issue in geriatrics. The aim of the study was to characterize correlates of polypharmacy in the PolSenior project. The PolSenior project, was a comprehensive survey in a large and longitudinal representative sample of thePolish older population. The project was conducted by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw between 2008 and 2011. All medications consumed during the week preceding the survey were evaluated for each participant (n = 4793, including 2314 females (48.3%)). Thereafter, the percentage of those with polypharmacy (at least 5 medications) and excessive polypharmacy (at least 10 medications) was calculated, and their correlates were determined. The average number of medications used by participants was 5.1 ± 3.6, and was higher in females than in males (5.5 ± 3.5 vs. 4.8 ± 3.5; p < 0.001). Polypharmacy characterized 2650 participants (55.3%) and excessive polypharmacy—532 of them (11.1%). The independent correlates associated withpolypharmacy were: age over 70 years, female sex, higher than primary education, living in an urban area, comorbidities, any hospitalization during past five years, and visiting general practicioners at least yearly. As for correlates with excessive polypharmacy, they were: age 80–84 years, female sex, living in an urban area, diagnosis of at least four chronic diseases, and at least two hospitalizations in the last five years. This study serves as a starting place to understand patient characteristics associated with polypharmacy, excessive polypharmacy, and identify targeted interventions.

Keywords: PolSenior; polypharmacy; excessive polypharmacy; older adults; correlates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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