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Arch Iran Med. 2023;26(3): 156-165.
doi: 10.34172/aim.2023.24
PMID: 37543938
PMCID: PMC10685724
Scopus ID: 85166768046
  Abstract View: 727
  PDF Download: 481

Original Article

Prevalence and Correlates of Polypharmacy, and Drug Utilization Pattern in a Semi-urban Population: Results from the Pars Cohort Study

Mohammad Reza Akbari 1 ORCID logo, Alireza Kamalipour 2 ORCID logo, Mahsa Pakroo 3, Bita Mesgarpour 4 ORCID logo, Hossein Poustchi 5, Zahra Mohammadi 5, Abdullah Gandomkar 6, Hossein Molavi Vardanjani 7* ORCID logo

1 MD-MPH Department, School of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2 Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, California, United States
3 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
4 National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran
5 Digestive Disease Research Center, Digestive Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of medical Science, Tehran, Iran
6 Non-communicable Disease Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
7 MD-MPH Department, School of Medicine, Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
*Corresponding Author: Hossein Molavi Vardanjani, Email: hosseinmolavi@ymail.com

Abstract

Background: Although polypharmacy is considered a major predictor of irrational use of drugs, little is known about polypharmacy in developing regions. We aimed to indicate the prevalence and correlates of polypharmacy and to determine the medication profile at the population level in southern Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from participants of the Pars Cohort Study (PCS) (aged above 40 years, N=9269). Polypharmacy was defined as using five or more medications concurrently. A Poisson multivariable model was applied to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) of various risk factors. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system was used for classifying medications.

Results: Prevalence of polypharmacy was 10.4%, (95% CI: 9.75; 11.08) and it was higher among females (15.0%), older adults (age≥65 years) (16.0%), and individuals with more than two chronic conditions (31%). Being female, educated, married, and not having a low socio-economic class were independently associated with a higher likelihood of polypharmacy. The most prevalent medications among female participants were sex hormones and modulators of the genital system (58.4%), drugs for acid-related disorders (14.6%), and anti-anemic preparations (13.6%,). On the other hand, males were using acid-related disorders (14.6%), anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic products (7.8%), and beta-blocking agents (6.3%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of polypharmacy in our sample was relatively low, especially among males. Cardiovascular drugs, acid suppressants, hormonal contraceptives, and anti-anemic preparations are drug classes with the highest contribution to polypharmacy.


Cite this article as: Akbari MR, Kamalipour A, Pakroo M, Mesgarpour B, Malekzadeh R, Poustchi H, et al. Prevalence and correlates of polypharmacy, and drug utilization pattern in a semi-urban population: results from the pars cohort study. Arch Iran Med. 2023;26(3):156-165. doi: 10.34172/aim.2023.24
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Submitted: 24 Jul 2022
Revision: 06 Sep 2022
Accepted: 20 Sep 2022
ePublished: 01 Mar 2023
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