Associated Factors of Polypharmacy among Elderly Patients Attended at Primary Care Setting

Aims: To determine the factors associated with polypharmacy in individuals aged 60 and over attending at a primary care unit.

Methodology: A case-control study was designed with the population served from January 2017 to December 2018 at the “Aragón” Family Medicine Clinic.

Results: A total population of 1,657 cases and 1,657 controls was included. The prevalence of excessive polypharmacy was significantly higher (p < 0.001) among patients seen in the MIDE module (n=203, 59.2%; 95% CI 54.2-65.0) and Dentistry (n=188, 48.1%; 95% CI 43.0-52.9). The most frequently prescribed and dispensed medications were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, proton pump inhibitors, vitamins, statins, lipid-lowering agents, and non-insulin hypoglycemic agents. A significant association was observed between polypharmacy and the number of services used (OR=2.87; 95% CI 2.40-3.43, p< 0.001 for 2 services, and OR=11.21; 95% CI 6.28-20.03, p< 0.001 for 3 or more services), the presence of multiple morbidities (OR=5.65; 95% CI 4.73-6.76, p< 0.001), and the type of entitlement (OR=0.80; 95% CI 0.69-0.94, p=0.009; family members).

Conclusions: The risk factors associated with polypharmacy are linked to the clinical conditions of the patient and the medicalisation process of primary care.