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Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication in the Adult, Community-Dwelling Population in Switzerland

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Abstract

Background

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) are associated with adverse outcomes such as hospitalization, loss of productivity, and death.

Objective

This study evaluates the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM in the adult community-dwelling population in Switzerland.

Methods

The analysis is done based on claims data from the largest health insurance in Switzerland. We calculated the number of medications submitted for reimbursement, the proportion of persons with polypharmacy, and the proportion of persons receiving PIM according to the 2003 Beers criteria and the PRISCUS list. Additionally, we estimated cost for medications and PIM, and identified the most prevalent groups of PIM according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC).

Results

17 % of the adult community-dwelling population in Switzerland received 5 or more medications which is one of the common definitions of polypharmacy, and over 21 % of adults aged more than 65 years had a PIM according to 2003 Beers criteria or the PRISCUS list. The most prevalent classes of PIM were psycholeptics, sex hormones, psychoanaleptics, and antiinflammatory drugs.

Conclusion

Although the present study has a number of limitations, we conclude that the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM in Switzerland is high. A broad spectrum of interventions on the individual level as well as on the population level is urgently needed.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by own resources of the Helsana group and the Swiss Center for Telemedicine Medgate. The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study nor in the decision to submit this manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Center for Telemedicine Medgate, Basel, Switzerland

    Eva Blozik & Jan von Overbeck

  2. Department of Primary Medical Care, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Eva Blozik

  3. Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland

    Roland Rapold & Oliver Reich

Authors
  1. Eva Blozik
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  2. Roland Rapold
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  4. Oliver Reich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eva Blozik.

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Blozik, E., Rapold, R., von Overbeck, J. et al. Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication in the Adult, Community-Dwelling Population in Switzerland. Drugs Aging 30, 561–568 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-013-0073-0

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