Study Links High Prescription Medication Use Among Older Adults to Increased Death Risk

New research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society notes a significant link between taking five or more prescription drugs and a higher risk of death for older adults. This study brings attention to the increasing concerns surrounding polypharmacy, defined as the regular use of five or more daily prescriptions, and its impact on the aging population.

Research Highlights

Dr. Alexander Chaitoff from the University of Michigan School of Medicine led the study. Researchers analyzed data from a national survey involving 7,828 adults aged 65 and older, spanning from 1999 to 2016. To verify medication use, trained staff directly checked the participants’ pill bottles over a 30-day period and followed them for an average of 8.5 years.

The study focused on community-living older adults, excluding those in nursing homes or assisted care facilities, capturing a snapshot of medication use at the study’s onset.

More than half of the participants (54.3%) took high-risk medications. The largest group included those involved in polypharmacy, with over 40% using five or more prescriptions. Another 37.6% used drugs considered risky for older individuals, raising the likelihood of confusion or falls. Additionally, 11.4% were on medication combinations leading to significant drug-to-drug interactions.

Implications and Risks

After considering overall health and existing conditions, the study found taking five or more medications increased the mortality risk by 38%. Each additional prescription raised the death risk by 7%. Health experts from the Cleveland Clinic point out that aging affects the liver and kidneys, making drug processing less efficient and increasing potential side effects and accidental overdoses.

Researchers stress that these findings can guide doctors in identifying patients who might need to reduce or stop some medications safely. They concluded that the total number of medications taken was the strongest predictor of mortality, even after accounting for drug interactions and possibly inappropriate prescriptions.

These results advocate for ‘deprescribing,’ a strategy to carefully decrease or eliminate unnecessary medications, aiding in potentially lowering death risks.

Study Limitations and Observational Insights

The authors acknowledged certain limitations of the study, such as focusing only on community-living older adults and relying on a one-time 30-day medication snapshot. Thus, the study reveals an association, not a direct causation, between prescriptions and mortality risk.

Experts advise that while higher prescription numbers correlate with increased mortality, it could be that older adults on multiple medications already face complex health challenges, independently affecting mortality.

Khloe Quill, a lifestyle writer, contributes to covering various topics for Fox News Digital, including health-related stories.