Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Background: Polypharmacy involves the use of multiple medications by a single individual,
often due to multiple medical conditions or symptoms. Inappropriate polypharmacy occurs
when a patient is prescribed multiple medications that are either unnecessary or potentially
unsafe. Inappropriate polypharmacy can lead to adverse drug reactions, decreased adherence,
morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Despite global concerns about its adverse
effects, the indications, magnitude, involved medical conditions, and patient factors associated
with inappropriate polypharmacy Tanzania.
Objective: To assess patterns and factors associated with polypharmacy at Muhimbili
National Hospital.
Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Prescriptions of 682
patients who received treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital from January 2023 to June
2023 were reviewed using a random probability sampling technique. Descriptive statistics
were used to assess the magnitude of inappropriate polypharmacy, identify involved medical
conditions, and identify patterns. Logistic regression was used to determine the associations
between patient factors, provider factors and inappropriate polypharmacy.
Results: More than half of the patients were female (58.4%), and 65.3% were adults aged 18
64. Most patients (67.2%) used insurance. Inappropriate polypharmacy occurred in 46.5% of
cases. Higher risks were noted in females (aOR: 1.14,), adults aged 16-64 (aOR: 1.3), and
insured patients (aOR: 1.16), while those with multi-morbidity had a lower risk (aOR: 0.59).
Opioids & Narcotics were the most common drugs with addiction risks.
Conclusions and recommendations: Inappropriate polypharmacy is a significant issue,
especially among females, adults, and insured patients, often linked to conditions like
obstetrics and gynecology, oncologic, and cardiovascular diseases. To improve patient safety
and medication use, the study recommends strict adherence to prescribing guidelines, regular
medication reviews by multidisciplinary teams, and promotion of collaborative care models.
These steps aim to reduce unnecessary or harmful medication use and enhance patient
outcomes.
