Polypharmacy at discharge in older hospitalised patients in Vietnam and its association with frailty. (1st November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Thanh Xuan; Nguyen, Tu N.; Nguyen, Anh Trung; Nguyen, Huong Thi Thu; Nguyen, Thu Thi Hoai; Nguyen, Tam Ngoc; Pham, Thang; Vu, Huyen Thi Thanh
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 39:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 230
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2019-11-01
• Subjects: frailty -- medication -- older people -- polypharmacy; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12722
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy and the common drugs prescribed at discharge in frail and non‐frail older inpatients, and to examine whether frailty is significantly associated with polypharmacy. Methods: Cross‐sectional analysis from data of a study about the prevalence of frailty in older inpatients in Vietnam in 2015. Polypharmacy was defined as using ≥5 medications. Frailty was defined by Fried's frailty criteria. Results: There were 382 participants, mean age 76.4, 56.5% female and 35.9% frail. At discharge, 59.2% had polypharmacy (62.8% in the frail and 57.1% in the non‐frail). Vitamin/supplements were the most common drugs prescribed, followed by antiplatelets. Frailty was not significantly associated with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.89‐2.34). Conclusions: The prevalence of polypharmacy at discharge was high in both frail and non‐frail participants. The association between frailty and polypharmacy needs to be investigated further in multicentre studies with larger sample sizes in Vietnam.