RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The epidemiology of polypharmacy
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 465
OP 469
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-5-465
VO 16
IS 5
A1 Rupert A Payne
YR 2016
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/5/465.abstract
AB Polypharmacy describes, in simplistic terms, the use of multiple medications in an individual. It has become a normal aspect of modern medicine, driven by an ageing, multimorbid population, the increasing availability of preventative medications and an increasing use of single-disease guidelines and adherence to evidence-based practice. However, polypharmacy is also associated with a range of adverse outcomes, and is considered an important and increasing challenge for clinical practice. Here, we consider the definitions of polypharmacy, the extent and nature of medication use in different settings, and the type of problems encountered as a consequence of polypharmacy.