Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28273128›Full record

ArticlePloS one2017

Prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults in multi-ethnic Malaysia.

Li Min Lim, Megan McStea, Wen Wei Chung, Nuruljannah Nor Azmi, Siti Azdiah Abdul Aziz, Syireen Alwi, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman, Siew Siang Chua, Reena Rajasuriar

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 58 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
58citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
8.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

58 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 128 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Li Min LimDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Megan McSteaThe Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELOR) Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Wen Wei ChungPharmacy Department, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nuruljannah Nor AzmiCentre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Siti Azdiah Abdul AzizCentre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Syireen AlwiDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Adeeba KamarulzamanCentre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Shahrul Bahyah KamaruzzamanThe Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELOR) Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Siew Siang ChuaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Reena RajasuriarDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3756-0629
University of Malaya · MYThe University of Melbourne · AUUniversity Malaya Medical Centre · MY

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPolypharmacy has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the older population.

objectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy in a cohort of urban community-dwelling older adults receiving chronic medications in Malaysia.

methodsThis was a baseline study in the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research cohort. The inclusion criteria were individuals aged ≥55years and taking at least one medication chronically (≥3 months). Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire during home visits where medications taken were reviewed. Health outcomes assessed were frequency of falls, functional disability, potential inappropriate medication use (PIMs), potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs), healthcare utilisation and quality of life (QoL). Risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy (≥5 medications including dietary supplements) were determined using multivariate regression models.

resultsA total of 1256 participants were included with a median (interquartile range) age of 69(63-74) years. The prevalence of polypharmacy was 45.9% while supplement users made up 56.9% of the cohort. The risk factors associated with increasing medication use were increasing age, Indian ethnicity, male, having a higher number of comorbidities specifically those diagnosed with cardiovascular, endocrine and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as supplement use. Health outcomes significantly associated with polypharmacy were PIMS, PDDIs and increased healthcare utilisation.

conclusionA significant proportion of older adults on chronic medications were exposed to polypharmacy and use of dietary supplements contributed significantly to this. Medication reviews are warranted to reduce significant polypharmacy related issues in the older population.

Indexed as

EthnicityGeriatric AssessmentPolypharmacyUrban PopulationAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsDietary SupplementsDrug InteractionsFemaleHumansMalaysiaMaleMiddle AgedMorbidityMortality

Identifiers

PMID28273128
PMCPMC5342241
OpenAlexW2593242497

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.