Polypharmacy in the Elderly: A Marker of Increased Risk of Mortality in a Population-Based Prospective Study (NEDICES)

polypharmacy. In an unadjusted Cox model, risk of mortality was increased in participants on polypharmacy [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.78, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.36–3.27, p < 0.001) and in those taking between 1 and 5 drugs (HR = 1.47, 95 % CI: 1.31–1.64, p < 0.001) versus those who were non-medicated (reference group). In a Cox model that adjusted for a variety of demographic factors and comorbidities, HR remained increased in participants on polypharmacy (HR = 1.83, 95 % CI: 1.51–2.21, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that polypharmacy is associated with in-creased risk of mortality in elderly people. The extent to which polypharmacy is the proximate cause rather than a marker of this increase risk remains to be determined. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Base