Polymedication Affects Nearly One-Third of Spain's Elderly Population, Rising to 45% Among Those 85-94
Nearly one-third of Spaniards over 65 are polymedicated, with usage peaking at 45% in the 85-94 age group, emphasizing a need for tailored medication strategies.
- • 29.7% of Spaniards aged 65+ are polymedicated, with prevalence increasing with age to 44.7% at 85-94 years.
- • Women have a higher polymedication rate (30.9%) than men (28.3%), especially among older adults.
- • Common medications include antiulcer drugs, antihypertensives, and statins; statin use declines after age 95.
- • Polymedicated individuals have significantly higher rates of chronic diseases such as heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus.
Key details
A recent report from Spain's Ministry of Health reveals that 29.7% of individuals aged 65 and older are polymedicated, defined as taking five or more different chronic medications annually. The prevalence of polymedication increases with age, reaching a peak of 44.7% among those aged 85 to 94, before declining to 30.8% in individuals aged 95 and over. Women are more affected than men, with 30.9% of women polymedicated compared to 28.3% of men, a gap that is most notable among older age groups.
Data sourced from the 2023 Primary Care Clinical Database shows that commonly used medications include antiulcer drugs (used by over 70% in all age groups), antihypertensives like ACE inhibitors or ARBs (55-70%), and statins, though statin use decreases significantly after age 95. Polymedicated patients exhibit substantially higher rates of chronic diseases: heart failure is seven times more common, ischemic heart disease nearly five times, and diabetes mellitus three times compared to non-polymedicated individuals. Notably, dementia-related medications are used 4.5 times more among those over 95 than among younger seniors.
Gender differences in medication use are pronounced, with women consuming more drugs for bone health, thyroid conditions, mental health, and chronic pain, while men more frequently use urological, cardiovascular, and antidiabetic medications.
The report highlights the importance of developing rational medication strategies tailored to older adults, considering gender and age variations to enhance safety, minimize drug interactions, and improve quality of life in advanced age.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
