Source: Fox News
Summary
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults taking five or more prescription medications face a significantly higher risk of death compared to those taking fewer drugs. Researchers analyzed national survey data from 7,828 adults aged 65 and older between 1999 and 2016. The study revealed that taking five or more prescriptions was associated with a 38% increase in overall mortality risk, and each additional prescription medication added to a patient’s routine was linked to a 7% increase in death risk.
Our Reading
The advice sounds familiar.
Research on polypharmacy and its long-term effects on aging populations has been ongoing. This study highlights the growing concern over the use of multiple medications among older adults. The finding that taking five or more prescriptions is associated with a higher mortality risk is a reminder that the use of multiple medications should be carefully monitored.
As the liver and kidneys age, they process drugs less efficiently, increasing the likelihood of side effects and adverse drug reactions. The total number of medications taken was the strongest independent predictor of mortality, even after accounting for drug-to-drug interactions and potentially inappropriate prescriptions.
The study’s findings could help doctors determine which patients are the best candidates for “deprescribing,” or carefully reducing or stopping unnecessary medications.
It’s another reminder that the more we learn, the more we realize we don’t know.
Author: Evan Null
