Prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy among adults and older adults: a systematic review

Kathryn Nicholson, PhD; Winnie Liu, BSc; Daire Fitzpatrick, MD; Kate Anne Hardacre, BMSc; Sarah Roberts, MD; Jennifer Salerno, PhD; Saverio Stranges, ProfMD PhD; Martin Fortin, MD MSc; Dee Mangin, ProfMBCHB DPH

The Lancet. Healthy Longevity (Apr 2024)

Prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy among adults and older adults: a systematic review

Kathryn Nicholson, PhD,
Winnie Liu, BSc,
Daire Fitzpatrick, MD,
Kate Anne Hardacre, BMSc,
Sarah Roberts, MD,
Jennifer Salerno, PhD,
Saverio Stranges, ProfMD PhD,
Martin Fortin, MD MSc,
Dee Mangin, ProfMBCHB DPH

Affiliations

Kathryn Nicholson, PhD: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Correspondence to: Kathryn Nicholson, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Winnie Liu, BSc: Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Daire Fitzpatrick, MD: Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
Kate Anne Hardacre, BMSc: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Sarah Roberts, MD: Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Jennifer Salerno, PhD: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Saverio Stranges, ProfMD PhD: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
Martin Fortin, MD MSc: Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Dee Mangin, ProfMBCHB DPH: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of General Practice, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 4
pp. e287 – e296

Abstract

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Summary: Multimorbidity (multiple conditions) and polypharmacy (multiple medications) are increasingly common, yet there is a need to better understand the prevalence of co-occurrence. In this systematic review, we examined the prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy among adults (≥18 years) and older adults (≥65 years) in clinical and community settings. Six electronic databases were searched, and 87 studies were retained after two levels of screening. Most studies focused on adults 65 years and older and were done in population-based community settings. Although the operational definitions of multimorbidity and polypharmacy varied across studies, consistent cut-points (two or more conditions and five or more medications) were used across most studies. In older adult samples, the prevalence of multimorbidity ranged from 4·8% to 93·1%, while the prevalence of polypharmacy ranged from 2·6% to 86·6%. High heterogeneity between studies indicates the need for more consistent reporting of specific lists of conditions and medications used in operational definitions.

Published in The Lancet. Healthy Longevity

ISSN: 2666-7568 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Special situations and conditions: Geriatrics
Website: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/home

About the journal