Polypharmacy in the Elderly: A Marker of Increased Risk of Mortality in a Population-Based Prospective Study (NEDICES).

Background: Little information is available on the potential association between polypharmacy and risk of mortality.

Objective: To determine in a population-based study whether polypharmacy is associated with increased risk of mortality in elderly persons.

Methods: In this population-based, prospective study of 5,052 people aged 65 years and older (Neurological Disorders in Central Spain), current medications were recorded.