Pattern of poly pharmacy among geriatric patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital: A cross-sectional study

Background: In older adults multimorbidity increases with age and this increases the consumption of medications and the risk of Polypharmacy (PP). Along with this, the use of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) among the elderly patients is a very common public concern. Objectives: The primary objective is to assess the pattern of PP and estimate the proportion of PP and PIMs among the geriatric in-patients. The secondary objective is to find out the association between serum creatinine and PP. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the geriatric in-patients aged ≥65 years admitted in medical wards by reviewing the case sheets. PIMs use was identified using Beer's criteria. Descriptive statistics like mean, range, standard deviation and proportions were used for Polypharmacy and PIMS. Inferential statistics like Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to find out association between serum creatinine and PP. Results: A total of 84 geriatric in-patients were enrolled as study subjects. Mean number of drugs prescribed was 6.9 (±3.2) and range 2-18. Proportion of PP was 73.8% and that of PIMs was found in 33.3% in the patients. There was significant association between an increase in serum creatinine levels with an increase in consumption of drugs. (p = 0.009) Conclusion: The proportion of PP and PIM and was found to be high among the geriatric patients. There was an increase in serum creatinine levels with increased consumption of drugs.