Relationship Between Polypharmacy and Geriatric Syndromes in Older Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

Objective: Our aim is to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy and the relationship between polypharmacy and geriatric syndromes as well as comorbidity in older nursing home residents (NHR). Materials and Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was conducted with 217 adults ≥60 years of age who had Katz index of Independence in activities of daily living score over 4 points and were institutionalized at nursing care home from March to April 2019. Polypharmacy was defined as the daily use of 5 or more medications. Geriatric syndromes include dementia, depression, urinary incontinence (UI), malnutrition, falls, mobility problems, hearing loss, vision impairment. Results: The prevalence of polypharmacy among NHR was 61.8%. By univariate analysis, polypharmacy was associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes mellitus, and with geriatric syndromes such as dementia, depression, UI, and mobility problems (p<0.05). In the multivariate analyses, depression [odds ratio (OR) =9.57; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.73-33.60] and mobility problems (OR= 4.88; 95% CI, 1.80-13.25) increased polypharmacy by 9.6 and 4.9-fold respectively. Conclusion: Comorbidity and geriatric syndromes play an important role in the development of polypharmacy. Monitoring polypharmacy is often necessary as well as giving complex medication regimens for NHR.