The Hidden Risks of Polypharmacy in Older Adults: Study from Indian Cities

Older adults often take multiple medicines for different health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. But taking too many medicines (polypharmacy) or using medicines without a doctor’s advice (self-medication) can be dangerous. A recent study conducted in six major Indian cities — New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ujjain, Patna, and Guwahati — looked at how common these problems are and what causes them.

How the Study Was Done?

Researchers surveyed 600 older adults (aged 60 and above) from different cities using a systematic approach. They collected information about:

• Medicines taken in the past three months (both prescribed and self-used).

• Health conditions and number of diseases.

• Understanding of medicines (whether they knew about risks and safe usage).

• Prescriptions to check for inappropriate medicines or missing important treatments.

  
  

Key Findings Of Polypharmacy

1. Too Many Medicines Is A Big Problem

• 33.7% of older adults took 5 or more medicines daily for a long period.

• Some cities had much higher rates — Guwahati (57%) had the highest, while Ujjain (11.7%) had the lowest.

• The most commonly used medicines were for high blood pressure (19.9%), diabetes (15.9%), and cholesterol (13.9%).

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2. Unsafe Medicines Are Common

• 28.8% of older adults were prescribed at least one unsafe medicine (Potentially Inappropriate Medication or PIM).

• Common unsafe practices included:

  • Long-term use of sleeping pills (69.4%).

  • Overuse of stomach acid medicines (56.6%).

  • Painkillers (NSAIDs) without stomach protection (37.6%), increasing the risk of ulcers.

• On the other hand, 20.3% had missing important medicines (Potential Prescribing Omissions or PPOs), such as:

  • No heart-protecting medicines for diabetic patients.

  • No calcium and vitamin D for osteoporosis patients.

    
    

3. Self-Medication: A Silent Danger

• 19.7% of older adults used medicines without a doctor's advice.

• Self-medication rates were highest in Kolkata (38.3%) and lowest in Ujjain (4%).

• Most commonly self-used medicines:

  • Painkillers (59%)

  • Paracetamol (42.4%)

  • Antibiotics (33.9%) — often for common colds and diarrhea, which can cause antibiotic resistance.

    
    

4. Who Is at Higher Risk?

Older adults were more likely to take too many medicines or self-medicate if they:

• Had multiple diseases.

• Were recently hospitalized.

• Lived alone (self-medication was 4.5 times higher among those living alone).

  
  

5. Lack of Awareness

Among those who self-medicated:

• 65.3% did not know about the risks.

• 50% were unaware of possible side effects.

• 40.7% followed unsafe practices, like taking expired medicines or skipping doses.

  
  

What Can We Do?

🔹 Regular Medicine Review: Older adults should consult doctors or pharmacists to check if all their medicines are necessary.

🔹 Avoid Self-Medication: Never take antibiotics, painkillers, or other prescription medicines without consulting a doctor.

🔹 Family Support: If you have elderly family members, help them manage their medicines correctly.

🔹 Raise Awareness: Older adults and caregivers should be educated on safe medicine use to prevent harmful effects.

This study shows that many older adults in India take too many medicines or use them unsafely, which can lead to serious health problems. The good news? Simple steps like regular check-ups, avoiding unnecessary medicines, and better awareness can make a big difference!

Let’s ensure safer healthcare for our elders! 💙