Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reveals that older adults taking five or more prescription medications face a heightened risk of death. This phenomenon, known as polypharmacy, is increasingly relevant as the aging population grows.
Dr. Alexander Chaitoff from the University of Michigan School of Medicine led this study. His team analyzed data from 7,828 individuals aged 65 and above, collected between 1999 and 2016. Participants’ medication use was verified by trained staff who inspected their pill bottles, and the researchers tracked them over an average of 8.5 years.
Over half of the study participants (54.3%) were categorized as high-risk medication users. The largest segment among them consisted of those engaged in polypharmacy.
Notably, 40% of these older adults took five or more medications. Another 37.6% used drugs potentially hazardous for seniors, such as those increasing confusion or falls. Additionally, 11.4% consumed combinations with severe interaction risks.
After controlling for health conditions, polypharmacy correlated with a 38% rise in mortality risk. Each added prescription linked to a 7% death risk increase. According to the Cleveland Clinic, taking multiple drugs can cause side effects and drug reactions, as aging organs process substances less efficiently.
These insights could assist doctors in identifying patients for ‘deprescribing’—reducing unnecessary medications safely. The study highlighted that the total medication count stood as the leading independent mortality predictor.
The research team acknowledged some limitations. The focus was on community-dwelling seniors, excluding those in nursing homes. The single 30-day medication review only suggests associations, not causation. Health experts stress that patients with multiple prescriptions also have complex health conditions, inherently elevating their mortality risk.
Khloe Quill from Fox News Digital contributed to this report, covering lifestyle, travel, and health topics.
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