AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the number of medications (polypharmacy) and outcomes in older adults (>75 years) with cardiovascular diseases.
  • Data from 2,089 patients were analyzed, divided into three groups based on medication count: fewer than 3, 3-7, and 8 or more medications.
  • Results indicated a higher incidence of all-cause death in those taking 8 or more medications, but some heart disease subgroups did not show the same risk, suggesting that more medications might sometimes be beneficial rather than harmful in cardiovascular treatment.

Article Abstract

Aim: Although polypharmacy has been associated with poor clinical outcomes, whether taking an increased number of medications is harmful or beneficial for older adult patients treated for cardiovascular diseases might require further discussion.

Methods: We analyzed data of 2089 patients aged ≥75 years in a single hospital-based cohort. The study population was divided into three groups according to the tertiles of the number of medications at baseline: <3 (n = 647), 3-7 (n = 707) and ≥8 (n = 735).

Results: The cumulative incidences of all-cause death at 3 years among patients taking less than three, three to seven and eight or more medications were 3.7%, 4.1% and 7.8%, respectively (log-rank test P = 0.015). In a Cox regression analysis, taking eight or more total medications (vs 0-2) was independently associated with all-cause death (hazard ratio 1.67, 95% CI 1.01-2.78). For predicting mortality using the number of medications, the maximum Youden Index was 7. In subgroups with certain heart diseases, no regular tendency of an increase in the risk of all-cause death was observed with an increase in the number of medications.

Conclusions: The number of medications taken was independently associated with mortality among older adult patients, with a relatively high cut-off point. This association was not observed in patients with certain heart diseases, possibly indicating the merit - rather than the harm - of medical treatment in the cardiovascular field. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 985-995.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14275DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

number medications
12
older adult
8
adult patients
8
association number
4
medications mortality
4
mortality older
4
patients specialized
4
specialized cardiology
4
cardiology hospital
4
hospital aim
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!