Analysis of the prevalence and pattern of polypharmacy among elderly patients in general medicine and orthopaedic department of a tertiary care hospital in Pondicherry
Creators
- 1. Junior Resident Department of Pharmacology, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry.
- 2. Associate Professor Department of Pharmacology, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry. India
- 3. Professor Department of Pharmacology, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry
- 4. Junior Resident, Department of Pharmacology, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry
Description
Introduction: Global population aging continues to be a significant phenomenon. Due to their various chronic illnesses, which necessitate the use of multiple medications, elderly persons are more likely to be prescribed multiple medications, a practice known as polypharmacy (PP) or potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Aims and Objectives: This study set out to: (1) To access the prevalence and incidence of polypharmacy among the elderly patients in general medicine and orthopaedic department. (2)Assess the prescription pattern and which medications were most commonly administered to this group of people. Methods: This Hospital-based Prospective and observational study will be conducted in AVMCH a tertiary care teaching hospital was carried out on senior patients who visited the out-patients departments (OPD) of General medicine and orthopaedics. The Institutional Ethical Committee granted approval for the trial, which ran for a full year from May 2023 to April 2024. Data on the demographic data, prescribing pattern of drugs (polypharmacy), total number of prescribed drugs, and main and adjuvant drugs prescribed to patients during treatment given to patients were gathered and entered on excel sheet. Results: Of the 600 patients, 315 men and 285 Women were involved in the research. Minor polypharmacy (two to four drugs) accounted for 86.5% of the prevalence, major polypharmacy (five or more drugs) for 13.0%, and hyper polypharmacy (ten or more drugs) for 0.5%. Most often recommended medications in department of medicine included NSAIDs, multivitamins, PPI, leukotriene receptor antagonists, H2 blockers and antihistamines, which accounted for 99.3%, 41.7%, 41.0%, 14.0%, 12.0% and 10.0% respectively. In orthopaedics department NSAIDs, vitamins, proton-pump inhibitors, H2 receptor blockers, pregabalin, agents, antacids, antispasmodics and opioids analgesics, they accounted for 145.3%, 68.7%, 47.7%, 25.0%, 13.7%, 13.7%, 7.0% and 3.0%.respectively. Conclusion: polypharmacy is no doubt a global issue however it is avoidable and treatable with the right prescription. Future medication usage strategies for senior patients will employ a multidisciplinary team comprising physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. This study can further be extended with more number of cases and for a longer duration to get a broad idea on the potential DDIs in various other departments with respect to the wide range of diseases encountered.
Abstract (English)
Introduction: Global population aging continues to be a significant phenomenon. Due to their various chronic illnesses, which necessitate the use of multiple medications, elderly persons are more likely to be prescribed multiple medications, a practice known as polypharmacy (PP) or potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Aims and Objectives: This study set out to: (1) To access the prevalence and incidence of polypharmacy among the elderly patients in general medicine and orthopaedic department. (2)Assess the prescription pattern and which medications were most commonly administered to this group of people. Methods: This Hospital-based Prospective and observational study will be conducted in AVMCH a tertiary care teaching hospital was carried out on senior patients who visited the out-patients departments (OPD) of General medicine and orthopaedics. The Institutional Ethical Committee granted approval for the trial, which ran for a full year from May 2023 to April 2024. Data on the demographic data, prescribing pattern of drugs (polypharmacy), total number of prescribed drugs, and main and adjuvant drugs prescribed to patients during treatment given to patients were gathered and entered on excel sheet. Results: Of the 600 patients, 315 men and 285 Women were involved in the research. Minor polypharmacy (two to four drugs) accounted for 86.5% of the prevalence, major polypharmacy (five or more drugs) for 13.0%, and hyper polypharmacy (ten or more drugs) for 0.5%. Most often recommended medications in department of medicine included NSAIDs, multivitamins, PPI, leukotriene receptor antagonists, H2 blockers and antihistamines, which accounted for 99.3%, 41.7%, 41.0%, 14.0%, 12.0% and 10.0% respectively. In orthopaedics department NSAIDs, vitamins, proton-pump inhibitors, H2 receptor blockers, pregabalin, agents, antacids, antispasmodics and opioids analgesics, they accounted for 145.3%, 68.7%, 47.7%, 25.0%, 13.7%, 13.7%, 7.0% and 3.0%.respectively. Conclusion: polypharmacy is no doubt a global issue however it is avoidable and treatable with the right prescription. Future medication usage strategies for senior patients will employ a multidisciplinary team comprising physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. This study can further be extended with more number of cases and for a longer duration to get a broad idea on the potential DDIs in various other departments with respect to the wide range of diseases encountered.
Files
IJPCR,Vol15,Issue12,Article9.pdf
Files
(1.7 MB)
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Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2023-11-18
Software
- Repository URL
- https://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPCR/15/IJPCR,Vol15,Issue12,Article9.pdf
- Development Status
- Active
References
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