Optimizing Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults: Emerging Strategies to Reduce Polypharmacy-Related Risks

Authors

  • Saud Attiah Alharthi, Bader Hadi Alyami, Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhazmi, Mahmood Saif Alenezi, Mohammed Eid Alsaadi, Yousef Saed Alhazmi, Abdulaziz Wazin Alharbi, Fahad Mohammed Almatrafi, Jaser Mohammed Alharbi Author

Keywords:

polypharmacy, DE prescribing, geriatrics, medication therapy management, Beers Criteria, older adults, adverse drug events.

Abstract

Background: the use of five or more medications simultaneously is very common among older adults and is generally considered a major risk factor for adverse drug events hospitalizations and mortality. prescribing efforts of Standard DE have relatively limited success in facilitating clinicians in addressing inappropriate medication use

Objective: To scope of the polypharmacy problem and synthesize emerging evidence-based strategies for optimizing pharmacotherapy in the elderly by medication reduction to a more framework of medication appropriateness.

Methods: A literature from 2020 to 2023 from the databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane focused on clinical trials systematic reviews Emerging strategies of the Age-Friendly Health Systems "4Ms" framework implementation of clinical decision support systems with explicit criteria as the Beers Criteria of the guides for Geriatric Pharmacotherapy and DE prescribing and team-based care

Conclusion: Multidimensional proactive process. Integration of structured frameworks technological tools and evidence-based guides with interdisciplinary collaboration will lead to significant reductions in risk related to polypharmacy ultimately resulting in better outcomes for the elderly which.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-29