Polypharmacy poses significant risks to elderly hospital admissions

Polypharmacy, defined as the simultaneous use of five or more medications daily, poses a significant health risk to the elderly. Research indicates that up to three in ten emergency hospital admissions for seniors are related to their medication regimens. Furthermore, more than 70% of elderly individuals practicing polypharmacy are taking at least one potentially inappropriate drug.

Chrysanthi Sardelli, a professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, emphasizes that polypharmacy is not merely a matter of the quantity of drugs, but a critical issue of safety, drug interactions, and the correct selection of treatments. The definition includes not only prescription drugs but also over-the-counter products, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements. In Europe, the average rate of polypharmacy for individuals over the age of 65 is 36.2%, according to data from the SHARE aging study.