Cardiovascular polypharmacy is not associated with unplanned hospitalisation: evidence from a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polypharmacy is often considered suggestive of suboptimal prescribing, and is associated with adverse outcomes. It is particularly common in the context of cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether prescribing of multiple cardiovascular medicines, which may be entirely appropriate and consistent with clinical guidance, is associated with adverse outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between number of prescribed cardiovascular medicines and unplanned non-cardiovascular hospital admissions.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis of 180,815 adult patients was conducted using Scottish primary care data linked to hospital discharge data. Patients were followed up for one year for the outcome of unplanned non-cardiovascular hospital admi

SUBMITTER: Appleton SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3997839 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature