Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41520050›Full record

ArticleDrugs & aging2026

Australian Polypharmacy Trends Between 2013 and 2024: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in the Adult Population.

Georgie B Lee, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Julie A Pasco, Osvaldo P Almeida, Erin Kelty, David B Preen, Frank M Sanfilippo, Amy T Page

Abstract read
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Article in Drugs & aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
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

8 authors.

Georgie B LeeSchool of Health and Clinical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia. georgie.lee@research.uwa.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4343-3020
Christopher Etherton-BeerWA Centre for Health and Ageing, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
Julie A PascoInstitute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Osvaldo P AlmeidaInstitute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Perth, WA, Australia.
Erin KeltySchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
David B PreenSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
Frank M SanfilippoSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
Amy T PageCentre for Optimisation of Medicines, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.

Funding

Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Stan Perron Charitable Foundation FellowshipUniversity of Western Australia ResearchUniversity of Western Australia Training Program stipend
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe aim of this repeated cross-sectional study was to estimate polypharmacy prevalence and trends in Australian adults between 2013 and 2024.

methodsDispensing records of medicines subsidised by the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) were analysed for a nationally representative 10% sample of PBS-eligible beneficiaries. OUTCOMES: The outcomes for this study were annual polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy prevalence, defined as ≥5 and ≥10 regular medicines, respectively, and average annual percentage change (AAPC), overall and by gender-stratified age groups. These groups are defined broadly as adult (18-64 years) and older adult (≥65 years), and as younger adulthood (18-39 years), middle (40-64 years), early older (65-84 years) and later older (85+ years) age.

resultsPolypharmacy prevalence rose from 8.0% in 2013 to 9.2% (AAPC+1.4%), with two million Australians exposed in 2024. Although prevalence was initially higher among women, by 2024 men had surpassed women from middle age onward. Increasing AAPC was observed among adult and older adult men (+1.0%, +1.3%), while remaining stable among women. Finer age strata showed growth among men in middle, early older, and later older age (+1.7%, +1.0%, +3.4%) and divergent trends among women, with increases in younger adulthood (+1.8%) and declines in early older age (- 0.7%).

conclusionShifting gender trends appear driven by stabilising or declining prevalence among women alongside sustained growth among men. By 2024, men exceeded women from middle age onward, suggesting a changing prescribing landscape. These patterns highlight the need for targeted interventions, and gender-stratified monitoring to ensure prescribing is appropriate. The long-term consequences of increasing polypharmacy in younger and middle-aged adults remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Identifiers

PMID41520050

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