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AlAbdulKader A, Alsheikh S, Alghamdi R, AlHarkan K, AlShamlan N, Alqahtani H, Awad FA, Alotaibi R. Association Between Multi-Morbidities and Polypharmacy Among Older Adults at an Academic Medical Center in Saudi Arabia. Med Arch 2023; 77:471-476. [PMID: 38313108 PMCID: PMC10834046 DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2023.77.471-476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Polypharmacy, or the routine use of five or more medications, can result in impacting patients' quality of life. Objective to examine the association between multi-morbidities and polypharmacy, and to examine prescription practices in the elderly. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were gathered from electronic medical records (EMR) at King Fahad University Hospital (KFHU) and the Family & Community Medicine Center (FCMC) of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. We included individuals aged 60 and above with at least one dispensed prescription in 2019 and 2020. Of the 76,216 patient records reviewed, 5,060 met the inclusion criteria. Polypharmacy was defined as a monthly average of five or more prescribed medications. The prevalence of polypharmacy was calculated by year, sex, and age group, and findings were summarized using mean medication numbers and standard deviations for each stratum. An app using R programming language was developed to help visualize patients' medication histories through interactive plots. Results Polypharmacy prevalence was 46% in 2019 and 44.6% in 2020. The mean and standard deviation of medications per person was 5.17 (3.42) in 2019 and 5.04 (3.37) in 2020. Females had a higher average number of medications than males, 5.17 (3.47) vs 5.04 (3.32). The age group of 80-85 had the highest number of medications at 5.6 (3.6), while those aged 90 and above had the lowest number at 4.48 (2.64). The presence of comorbidities was positively associated with the mean monthly medication count (P value < 0.01). Conclusion Our study revealed a high prevalence of polypharmacy among elderly patients at KFHU/FCMC, and a positive association with multi-morbidities. Consequently, measures must be taken to mitigate this globally emerging issue's impact and rapid progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assim AlAbdulKader
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahad Alsheikh
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rizam Alghamdi
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid AlHarkan
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf AlShamlan
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hatem Alqahtani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Feras Al Awad
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Alotaibi
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Nkinda L, Mwakawanga DL, Kibwana UO, Mikomangwa WP, Myemba DT, Sirili N, Mwakalukwa R, Kilonzi M, Sambayi G, Maganda BA, Njiro BJ, Ndumwa HP, Mutagonda R, Marealle AI, Felix FF, Mlyuka HJ, Makuka G, Kubigwa SW, Kunambi PP, Mfaume R, Nshau AB, Bwire GM, Scherpbier R, Nyankesha E. Implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes in paediatric patients in regional referral hospitals in Tanzania: experience from prescribers and dispensers. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2022; 4:dlac118. [PMID: 36439992 PMCID: PMC9683393 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2017, Tanzania launched the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAPAR), 2017-2022 and implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) was one of the agendas. Since the launch of the National Action Plan, no study has been done to assess its implementation. OBJECTIVES To explore the experiences of prescribers and dispensers on implementing ASPs among paediatric patients attending Regional Referral Hospitals (RRHs) in Tanzania. METHODS An exploratory qualitative study was conducted among key informants, in 14 RRHs in Tanzania between July and August 2020. A total of 28 key informants, 14 dispensers in charge of pharmacies and 14 medical doctors in charge of paediatric departments (prescribers), were interviewed. A hybrid thematic analysis was conducted on the gathered information. RESULTS Most of the study participants were not conversant with the term 'antibiotic stewardship'. Some had heard about the programmes but were not aware of the activities involved in the programme. Those who were knowledgeable on ASPs mentioned the lack of existence of such programmes in their settings. They further added that absence or limited knowledge of the stewardship concepts may have influenced the current poor practices. Barriers to the implementation of ASPs mentioned were lack of laboratory facilities to support culture and susceptibility tests, lack of materials and reagents, management pressure to prevent loss or to generate income, patients' influence and limited training opportunities. CONCLUSIONS Despite launching the NAPAR in 2017, we found limited implementation of ASPs in the management of paediatric patients. This study highlighted some barriers and identified possible intervention points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Nkinda
- School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dorkasi L Mwakawanga
- School of Nursing, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Upendo O Kibwana
- School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Wigilya P Mikomangwa
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - David T Myemba
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Nathanael Sirili
- School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rodgers Mwakalukwa
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Manase Kilonzi
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Godfrey Sambayi
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Betty A Maganda
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Belinda J Njiro
- School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Harrieth P Ndumwa
- School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ritah Mutagonda
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Alphonce I Marealle
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fatuma F Felix
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Hamu J Mlyuka
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Gerald Makuka
- School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Peter P Kunambi
- School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rashid Mfaume
- Regional Administrative Secretary, Dar es Salaam Region, PO Box 5429, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Arapha Bashir Nshau
- Pharmacy Council, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, PO Box 31818, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - George M Bwire
- School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Robert Scherpbier
- United Nations Children’s Fund, Bâtiment BIT, 4 Route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
| | - Elevanie Nyankesha
- United Nations Children’s Fund, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
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