ArticleInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2024
Prevalence and trends in polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy: a retrospective national database analysis (2012-2021).
Article in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Multimorbidity, polypharmacy and frailty in critically ill older adults.European geriatric medicine · 2026Review
- Development and evaluation of an e-learning program on drug-related problems for community pharmacists.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2026Article
- Physicians' gender and specialty in relation to adverse drug reaction reporting in Sweden.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2026Observational
- Pharmacists' role in interventions addressing excessive polypharmacy: a scoping review.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2026Article
- Socioeconomic deprivation and its association with polypharmacy in England: results from a national cross-sectional survey.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2026Article
- Impact of Australian home medicines reviews on continuous polypharmacy and associated costs among older women: a cohort study.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2025Article
- Identification of the Potential Pharmacotherapeutic Risk in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients.Cureus · 2025Article
- Association of polypharmacy with clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases: a retrospective cohort study.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPolypharmacy is a growing concern, impacting patient safety and healthcare costs. Monitoring its prevalence and temporal trends is essential for effective healthcare management.
aimThis study aimed to determine prevalence and trends of polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy in Belgium.
methodUtilizing a federal claims database, medication data were analyzed from 2012 to 2021. Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications) and excessive polypharmacy (≥ 10 medications) were evaluated, with prevalence calculated per 1000 inhabitants, and reported per year, age group and region. Linear regression estimated the impact of age and year on polypharmacy prevalence.
resultsIn 2021, polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy were reported in 135/1000 and 31/1000 Belgians respectively. Prevalence of both increased steadily from 2012 to 2021, with excessive polypharmacy rising more prominently. Among adults aged ≥ 65 years, prevalence rates were higher, with polypharmacy at 434/1000 and excessive polypharmacy at 106/1000. Regional variations were observed, with prevalence highest in the Walloons region. Patient age and year (2012-2021) were associated with both polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy (p < 0.001).
conclusionWe observed increases in polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy over a decade in Belgium, particularly among older adults. Efforts to monitor, manage, and optimize medication use are imperative to ensure safe and effective healthcare delivery.
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