Predictors of polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions among geriatric in patients at malaysian hospital

Geriatric population has grown rapidly in recent years. Geriatric inpatients' health care has become complicated due to the physiological and psychological changes increased by advancing age. Geriatric inpatients with polymorbidity often receive polypharmacy (PP) therapy. As a result, geriatric inpatients are at the high risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and significant predictors of PP leading to ADRs among geriatric inpatients. A prospective cohort design with convenient sampling was carried-out on 400 geriatric inpatients at Penang Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. The mean age for geriatric inpatients was 74.2 +/- 6.5 years, more than half (53.5%) were females. The highest ethnic group was Chinese (58%) followed by Malays (25.8%). Only 7.5% of hospitalized geriatric inpatients admitted from nursing homes in Penang state. The mean number of prescribed medications was 5.45 +/- 2.82. The incidence rates of PP and ADRs were 12.5% and 20.5% respectively. It was found that, ADRs was significantly increased with PP therapy. The main predictors of PP were; ADRs, hypertension, renal diseases, nursing homes residency, cardiovascular agents and elevated serum creatinine. Inpatient geriatric was at high risk of ADRs due to PP.