Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics and determinants of polypharmacy among elderly patients in Bahrain. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2022 in all primary healthcare centres in Bahrain. A simple random sample was obtained. An elderly patient was defined as one aged ≥60 years and polypharmacy was defined as the concomitant use of 5 or more medications, with excessive polypharmacy defined as the concomitant use of 10 or more medications. Results: A total of 977 patients were included, with more than half of them being females (n = 533, 54.55%) and the mean age of the participants at 67.90 ± 6.87 years. Essential hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities among the participants (61.51%, 57.63% and 53.22%, respectively). Among the cohort, 443 (45.34%) were on 5 or more medications and of those 66 (6.76%) were on at least 10 medications. A multivariate analysis revealed that patients with diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 5.836, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.061–8.385; P P P P P Conclusion: Polypharmacy is prevalent among elderly patients in Bahrain, particularly among those with non-communicable diseases. Polypharmacy should be considered while delivering healthcare services to the elderly, especially those with non-communicable diseases. Keywords: Aged; Elderly; Polypharmacy; Bahrain.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 24(1), 63-69
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Alawainati, M., Habib, F., Ateya, E., Dakheel, E., & Al-Buainain, M. (2025). Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 24(1), 63-69. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052
MLA 9
Alawainati, Mahmood, et al. "Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, 2025, pp. 63-69. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052.
Chicago (author–date)
Alawainati, Mahmood, Fatima Habib, Eman Ateya, Eman Dakheel, and Muneera Al-Buainain. 2025. "Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 24 (1): 63-69. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052.
Harvard
Alawainati, M., Habib, F., Ateya, E., Dakheel, E. and Al-Buainain, M. (2025) 'Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 24(1), pp. 63-69. doi:10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052.
Vancouver
Alawainati M, Habib F, Ateya E, Dakheel E, Al-Buainain M. Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;24(1):63-69. doi:10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052
IEEE
M. Alawainati, F. Habib, E. Ateya, E. Dakheel, and M. Al-Buainain, "Prevalence, Characteristics and Determinants of Polypharmacy Among Elderly Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Centres in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 63-69, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.9.2023.052.