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. 2025 Aug 21;15(8):e097863. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097863

Table 4. The most commonly used medications in total and in different polypharmacy status.

Total Non-polypharmacy Cumulative polypharmacy Consecutive polypharmacy
Pharmacological subgroup (ATC-4) Proportion
(%)
Pharmacological subgroup (ATC-4) Proportion
(%)
Pharmacological subgroup (ATC-4) Proportion
(%)
Pharmacological subgroup (ATC-4) Proportion
(%)
Glucocorticoids
(H02AB)
50.02 Glucocorticoids
(H02AB)
18.26 Glucocorticoids
(H02AB)
60.66 HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
(C10AA)
83.54
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
(C10AA)
42.73 Acetic acid derivatives and related substances
(M01AB)
11.06 HMG-CoA reductase Inhibitors
(C10AA)
53.94 Platelet aggregation inhibitors excl. heparin
(B01AC)
82.84
Platelet aggregation inhibitors excl. heparin
(B01AC)
41.92 Vitamin D and analogues
(A11CC)
9.97 Platelet aggregation inhibitors excl. heparin
(B01AC)
52.90 Glucocorticoids
(H02AB)
79.62
Acetic acid derivatives and related substances
(M01AB)
36.83 Fluoroquinolones
(J01MA)
9.75 Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain
(C09CA)
45.97 Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain
(C09CA)
76.22
Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain
(C09CA)
36.31 Antibiotics, ophthalmological
(S01AA)
9.29 Acetic acid derivatives and related substances
(M01AB)
45.46 Anilides
(N02BE)
74.68
Vitamin D And analogues
(A11CC)
35.80 HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
(C10AA)
9.29 Anilides
(N02BE)
44.98 H2-receptor antagonists
(A02BA)
72.53
Anilides
(N02BE)
35.67 Platelet aggregation inhibitors excl. heparin
(B01AC)
9.14 Vitamin D and analogues
(A11CC)
44.45 Acetic acid derivatives and related substances
(M01AB)
71.50
H2-receptor antagonists
(A02BA)
32.78 Corticosteroids, ophthalmological
(S03BA)
8.79 H2-Receptor antagonists
(A02BA)
41.43 Vitamin D And analogues
(A11CC)
70.49
Third-generation cephalosporins
(J01DD)
32.10 Third-generation cephalosporins
(J01DD)
7.96 Third-generation cephalosporins
(J01DD)
40.18 Third-generation cephalosporins
(J01DD)
67.61
Beta blocking agents, selective
(C07AB)
30.17 Anilides
(N02BE)
7.89 Beta blocking agents, selective
(C07AB)
38.38 Beta-blocking agents, selective
(C07AB)
65.31
Fluoroquinolones
(J01MA)
27.48 Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain
(C09CA)
7.46 Fluoroquinolones
(J01MA)
33.42 Proton pump inhibitors
(A02BC)
62.57
Proton pump inhibitors
(A02BC)
26.24 H2-receptor antagonists
(A02BA)
6.95 Proton pump inhibitors
(A02BC)
33.30 Benzodiazepine derivatives
(N05BA)
61.34
Benzodiazepine derivatives
(N05BA)
26.05 Corticosteroids, plain, ophthalmological
(S01BA)
6.38 Benzodiazepine derivatives
(N05BA)
33.07 Organic nitrates
(C01DA)
61.19
Macrolides
(J01FA)
25.15 First-generation cephalosporins
(J01DB)
5.80 Macrolides
(J01FA)
31.90 Macrolides
(J01FA)
55.84
Organic nitrates
(C01DA)
24.70 Beta-blocking agents, selective
(C07AB)
5.66 Organic nitrates
(C01DA)
31.85 Fluoroquinolones
(J01MA)
55.43

ATC, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification.