Deprescribing for all: a narrative review identifying inappropriate polypharmacy for all ages in hospital settings

[摘要] The most common definition of polypharmacy is the concurrent use of 5 or more nonprescription and prescription medicationsby a single individual.1 There may be someinstances of appropriate polypharmacy wheretherapy is optimised; however, for most cases,many medications may be unnecessary andeven harmful.2 Polypharmacy has becomea growing concern especially in ageing andat-risk populations due to its associationwith increased adverse drug events (ADE),drug interactions and decreased medicationadherence.3 4 To reduce the incidence ofpolypharmacy and its consequences, healthcare providers have turned to deprescribing,the systematic process of identifying inappropriate medications to discontinue or taperdown. Medications are inappropriate whenthey are no longer indicated or effective, andtheir existing or potential harms outweighthe benefits within the context of a patient’streatment goals, current level of functioning,life expectancy, values and preferences.

[学科分类] 药学

[关键词] polypharmacy;geriatrics;medication safety