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Risk Factors for High-Level Polypharmacy in Elderly Hospital Patient

Purpose: To identify an elderly patient in the hospital who is at increased risk for high level polypharmacy based on the study of Harugeri et al.

Description

Harugeri et al identified risk factors associated with high-level polypharmacy in elderly hospital patients. These can help to identify patients who may benefit from a review of their medications. The authors are from JSS University in Mysore and St. John's Medical College in Bangalore, India.


 

Patient selection: patients >= 60 years of age admitted to 2 tertiary hospitals in India

Term

Number of Drugs

polypharmacy

5 to 9

high-level (excess) polypharmacy

>= 10

 

Risk factors for high-level polypharmacy:

(1) multiple diagnoses (>= 3)

(2) angina pectoris (ischemic heart disease)

(3) longer length of stay (LOS; odds ratio 5.7 if >= 15 days; odds ratio 3.1 if 10 to 14 days)

 

Most drugs were prescribed as indicated. In reviewing polypharmacy it is important to look for medications that are used "off-label" or for which there is no clear indication for use.

 


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10