The prevalence of polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy among middle-aged vs older patients in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications, is a growing concern among middle-aged and older patients, posing potential risks and challenges in healthcare management.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy among populations of middle-aged vs older patients and identify its associated common comorbidities and prescribed medications in Qatif Central Hospital (QCH), Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Patients aged 40 years or older who presented to an outpatient medical care clinic at QCH, Saudi Arabia, between 1 January and 31 December 2021 were included, and their comorbidities, prescribed medications, and recent clinical laboratory test results were collected.