Multimorbidity, polypharmacy and primary prevention in community-dwelling adults in Quebec: a cross-sectional study

Fam Pract. 2019 Nov 18;36(6):706-712. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmz023.

Abstract

Background: Polypharmacy carries the risk of adverse events, especially in people with multimorbidity.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy in community-dwelling adults, the association of multimorbidity with polypharmacy and the use of medications for primary prevention.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the follow-up data from the Program of Research on the Evolution of a Cohort Investigating Health System Effects (PRECISE) in Quebec, Canada. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of three or more chronic diseases and polypharmacy as self-reported concurrent use of five or more medications. Primary prevention was conceptualized as the use of statin or low-dose antiplatelets without a reported diagnostic of cardiovascular disease.

Results: Mean age 56.7 ± 11.6, 62.5% female, 30.3% had multimorbidity, 31.9% had polypharmacy (n = 971). The most common drugs used were statins, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and psychotropics. Compared to participants without any chronic disease, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for having polypharmacy were 2.78 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-6.28] in those with one chronic disease, 8.88 (95% CI: 4.06-19.20) in those with two chronic diseases and 25.31 (95% CI: 11.77-54.41) in those with three or more chronic diseases, P < 0.001. In participants without history of cardiovascular diseases, 16.2% were using antiplatelets and 28.5% were using statins. Multimorbidity was associated with increased likelihood of using antiplatelets (adjusted OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.98-4.48, P < 0.001) and statins (adjusted OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 2.63-5.37, P < 0.001) for primary prevention.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of polypharmacy in community-dwelling adults in Quebec and a strong association with multimorbidity. The use of medications for primary prevention may contribute to polypharmacy and raise questions about safety.

Keywords: Antiplatelets; multimorbidity; polypharmacy; primary health care; primary prevention; statins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease / prevention & control
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimorbidity*
  • Polypharmacy*
  • Prevalence
  • Primary Prevention / methods*
  • Quebec / epidemiology
  • Self Report

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