Epidemiology and association with outcomes of polypharmacy in patients undergoing surgery: retrospective, population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of preoperative polypharmacy and the incidence of postoperative polypharmacy/hyper-polypharmacy in surgical patients and their association with adverse outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective, population-based cohort study among patients older than or equal to 18 years undergoing surgery at a university hospital between 2005 and 2018. Patients were categorized based on the number of medications: non-polypharmacy (fewer than 5); polypharmacy (5-9); and hyper-polypharmacy (greater than or equal to 10). The 30-day mortality, prolonged hospitalization (greater than or equal to 10 days), and incidence of readmission were compared between medication-use categories.

Results

Among 55 997 patients, the prevale

SUBMITTER: Jonsdottir F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10189279 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature