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'Polypharmacy' linked to 38% higher mortality risk for older adults
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults taking five or more prescription medications have a 38% higher risk of death compared to those taking fewer drugs.
- Researchers analyzed data from 7,828 adults aged 65 and older, verifying medication use and following participants for an average of 8.5 years.
- Polypharmacy was common, with 54.3% of participants taking five or more prescriptions, 37.6% using medications risky for older adults, and 11.4% taking drug combinations known for major interactions.
- Each additional prescription increased mortality risk by 7%, highlighting the dangers of side effects, adverse reactions, and impaired drug processing in aging organs.
- The study suggests deprescribing unnecessary medications could benefit some patients but notes limitations, including the observational nature of the research and focus on community-dwelling seniors only.
