Older adults taking five or more prescription medications face a significantly higher risk of death compared to those taking fewer drugs. This finding comes from a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The research highlights concerns over polypharmacy, a term describing the use of five or more daily prescriptions, and its impact on aging populations.
Research Findings
Dr. Alexander Chaitoff of the University of Michigan School of Medicine led the study. Researchers analyzed data from 7,828 adults aged 65 and older, collected from 1999 to 2016. Participants’ pill usage was verified by trained staff who inspected their medication bottles over a 30-day period. They were then followed for an average of 8.5 years.
“More than half of the participants fell into at least one high-risk medication category,” the study noted.
The study revealed that over 40% of the older adults were engaged in polypharmacy, meaning they took five or more prescription medications. A separate group, accounting for 37.6%, used drugs considered risky for seniors, such as those increasing confusion or fall risks. Additionally, 11.4% of the participants used combinations of medications leading to significant drug interactions.
Risks and Considerations
After considering overall health and underlying conditions, taking five or more prescriptions was associated with a 38% increase in overall mortality risk. Each additional drug further raised the death risk by 7%.
The Cleveland Clinic experts highlight that polypharmacy can lead to more side effects and adverse reactions as the kidneys and liver age, affecting drug processing efficiency. Researchers suggest that doctors can use these insights to identify patients who might benefit from reducing unnecessary medications safely.
The study pointed out that the total number of medications taken was a strong independent predictor of mortality. Polypharmacy increased risks despite considering drug interactions and inappropriate prescriptions.
Limitations and Observations
The study authors acknowledge some limitations. It focused on community-dwelling adults, excluding those in nursing homes or assisted living. The findings reflect an association since the data covers a single 30-day medication snapshot, without tracking changes over time.
Researchers emphasized that although the study is observational, it associates higher prescription numbers with increased mortality in older adults who often grapple with multiple severe health issues.