ArticleBMC public health2025
The association between polypharmacy and quality of life in elderly population in Southern Iran: Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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2 citing papers in PubMed.
- The association between frailty and quality of life in elderly population in Southern Iran: Findings from the Bushehr Elderly Health Program.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Redeemed prescription medicines to measure quality of life of patients with long-term conditions: a national cross-sectional study.BMC medicine · 2026Article
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Abstract
backgroundPolypharmacy is common among the elderly and may negatively impact quality of life (QoL). This study aims to investigate the association between polypharmacy and physical and mental components of QoL among older adults, with separate analyses by gender, in a Southern Iranian population.
methodsIn this cross-sectional study, individuals aged over 60 years from the Bushehr Elderly Health Program were categorized by medication use: polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications) versus no polypharmacy (< 5 medications). QoL was measured using the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12). Multivariable linear regression evaluated the association between polypharmacy and physical and mental QoL components, adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, and mental and physical comorbidities.
resultsAmong 2,399 participants (52% women), polypharmacy prevalence was 33.3% in women and 20.8% in men. Those with polypharmacy had significantly lower QoL scores. The largest mean differences were in mental health (MD: 3.22; 95% CI: 1.56–4.87; p = 0.001) and bodily pain (MD: 3.16; 1.70–4.62; p < 0.001) for women, and general health (MD: 3.78; 2.32–5.23; p < 0.001) and vitality (MD: 2.30; 0.84–3.76; p = 0.002) for men. Polypharmacy was significantly associated with lower Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores (men: β= -1.76, 95% CI: -2.79 to -0.73, p = 0.001; women: β= -1.98, -3.02 to -0.95, p < 0.001) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores (men: β= -1.74, -2.86 to -0.63, p = 0.002; women: β= -2.28, -3.56 to -1.01, p < 0.001). After adjustment, the association with MCS scores remained significant (men: β= -1.64, -2.72 to -0.55, p < 0.001; women: β= -1.80, -3.00 to -0.61, p = 0.009), whereas PCS associations attenuated and became nonsignificant (men: β = -0.68, -1.67 to 0.30, p = 0.17; women: β = -0.83, -1.77 to 0.11, p = 0.08).
conclusionPolypharmacy is prevalent among Southern elderly Iranians and is linked to reduced QoL, especially mental health, in both sexes. These findings highlight the need for careful medication management and prescription review in older adults. Limitations include the cross-sectional design that restricts causal interpretations and potential residual confounding. Future longitudinal studies should investigate causality and interventions to minimize polypharmacy and improve QoL in this population.
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