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. 2020;29(2):166-173.
doi: 10.1159/000503298. Epub 2019 Sep 11.

Prevalence and Risk of Polypharmacy among Community-Dwelling, Elderly Kuwaiti Patients

Nabil Ahmed Badawy  1 , Shokria Adely Labeeb  2 , Mawaheb Falah Alsamdan  3 , Badria Faleh Alazemi  2
Affiliations

Prevalence and Risk of Polypharmacy among Community-Dwelling, Elderly Kuwaiti Patients

Nabil Ahmed Badawy et al. Med Princ Pract. 2020.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy in community-dwelling, older Kuwaiti patients, describe the number and types of drugs used, and identify risk factors associated with polypharmacy.

Subjects and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey in which we interviewed 500 community-dwelling Kuwaiti adults over 65 years of age. The data collection occurred during a 4-month period from March to July 2017.

Results: Fifty-two percent (n = 260) of the patients were males, with a mean age of 71.73 ± 5.32 years. The prevalence of polypharmacy (5-8 drugs) and excessive polypharmacy (>8 drugs) was 58.4% (n = 292) and 10.2% (n = 51), respectively. The risk factors associated with an increased number of medicines used were: female gender (p = 0.019), a lower level of education (p = 0.003), a high number of hospital admissions (p = 0.000), clinics visited by the patient (p =0.000), and number of comorbidities (p = 0.000). The most commonly used medications (82.6% of the study population) were blood glucose-lowering agents, excluding insulin. Other commonly used medications were antihypertensive drugs and lipid-modifying agents.

Conclusion: A significant sector of the older Kuwaiti patient population has a high prevalence of polypharmacy and is thus exposed to its potential hazards. The current study highlights the need to revise the drug-dispensing policy among community-dwelling, older Kuwaiti people, as well as to initiate educational programs among healthcare practitioners concerning prescribing issues in older individuals.

Keywords: Comorbidity; Elderly; Polypharmacy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relation between the prevalence of NP, PP, and EPP and the number of comorbidities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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