POLYPHARMACY

Course overview

THE TERM POLYPHARMACY REFERS TO THE USE OF 5 OR MORE MEDICATIONS, BASED ON A REVIEW OF CURRENT DATA. AGING PLACES INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF MULTI-MORBIDITY (COEXISTENCE OF 2 OR MORE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS) DUE TO ASSOCIATED PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND INCREASES THE CHANCES OF BEING PRESCRIBED MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS. THE CUTOFF POINT OF 5 MEDICATIONS HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISK OF ADVERSE OUTCOME SUCH AS FALLS, FRAILTY, DISABILITY, AND MORTALITY IN OLDER ADULTS AND HENCE OPTIMIZATION OF MEDICATION REGIMEN IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC CARE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE KEY ELEMENTS OF POLYPHARMACY THERAPY IN THE CLINICAL SETTING AND DISCUSSES HOW MEMBERS OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE CARE OF PATIENTS TAKING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS.