Table 1.

Summary of Observational Studies of Polypharmacy in Older Adults

Author/Year	Setting/Country/Sample	Polypharmacy Results	Most Common Types of Medication Class/Individual Medications
Qato 2008	Ambulatory/USA/N=2976	37.1% men and 36% women aged 75+ used at least 5 RX medications; 46% took an OTC medication and 52% dietary supplements	hydrochlorthiazide, atorvastatin, levothyroxine, lisinopril, metoprolol, simvastatin, atenolol, amlodipine, metformin, furosemide
Rossi, 2007	Ambulatory/USA/ N=128	58.6% took 1+ unnecessary drugs	central nervous system, gastrointestinal, vitamins
Hajjar 2005	Hospital/USA/n=384	37.2% ≥ 9 drugs 41.4% 5-8 drugs 21.4% 1-4 drugs; 58.6% took 1+ unnecessary drugs	gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and therapeutic nutrients/minerals H2 blockers, laxatives, genitourinary antispasmodics, tricyclic antidepressants
Nobili , 2011	Hospital/Italy/n=1332	Admission-51.9% on 5+; Discharge-67% on 5+	antithrombotics, gastrointestinal diuretics, acei, beta-blockers, lipid and non-insulin glucose lowering rxs, digoxin
Dwyer , 2009	Nursing Home/USA/N= 13,507	39.7% on 9+ meds	laxatives, acid/peptic disorders, antidepressants, antipsychotics/antimanics, non-narcotic pain relievers, antipyretics, antiarthritics
Bronskill, 2012	Nursing Home/Canada/n=64,395	15.5% on 9+ medications	diuretics, ppi, aceI, beta-blockers, benzodiazepines, ssris, ccb, antipsychotics, statins, opioids

Abbreviations- acei(ACE Inhibitors), ccb(Calcium Channel Blockers), otc(Over-the-Counter Products), ppi(Proton Pump Inhibitors), rx(prescriptions), ssri(Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)