Polypharmacy, Drug-Related Issues Among Nursing Home Residents

Polypharmacy is associated with adverse outcomes like drug events and interactions among older individuals living in nursing homes (NHs).

With 19.2% of the Spanish population aged 65 years or older, researchers sought to examine patterns of polypharmacy and its relationship with various drug-related problems in a NH in Leon, Spain.

Researchers collected data on drug use from medical charts and then screened with CheckTheMeds, BOT PLUS, and Drug-Reax software.

Data showed the included 222 study participants were on a median of 7 medicines. The results revealed polypharmacy and inappropriate medications were present in 78.8% and 96.8% of residents, respectively. In nearly all the populations examined by researchers’, drug-related problems were observed.

Researchers noted that 81.1% of participants experienced drug-drug interactions and 24.7% were classified as severe/moderate. In the NH population examined in this study, a significant prevalence of drug-related problems and polypharmacy was observed.

For increasing polypharmacy and anticholinergic risk there was a higher risk of suffering drug-drug interactions.

“A regular evaluation of drug prescribing in nursing home residents is necessary to minimize drug-related problems risk,” concluded study authors.

Reference:
Díez R, Cadenas R, Susperregui J, et al. Drug-related problems and polypharmacy in nursing home residentes: a cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(7):4313. doi:10.3390/ijerph19074313.