Introduction Polypharmacy is commonly associated with adverse health outcomes. There are currently no meta-analyses of the prevalence of polypharmacy or factors associated with polypharmacy. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies with no restrictions on date. We included observational studies that reported on the prevalence of polypharmacy among individuals over age 19. Two reviewers extracted study characteristics including polypharmacy definitions, study design, setting, geography, and participant demographics. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scales. The main outcome was the prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy prevalence. The pooled prevalence estimates of polypharmacy with 95% confidence intervals were determined using random effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were undertaken to evaluate factors associated with polypharmacy such as polypharmacy definitions, study setting, study design and geography. Meta-regression was conducted to assess the associations between polypharmacy prevalence and study year. Results 106 full-text articles were identified. The pooled estimated prevalence of polypharmacy in the 54 studies reporting on polypharmacy in all medication classes was 37% (95% CI: 31-43%). Differences in polypharmacy prevalence were reported for studies using different numerical thresholds, study setting, and publication year. Sex, study geography, study design and geographical location were not associated with differences in polypharmacy prevalence. Discussion Our review highlights that polypharmacy is common particularly among older adults and those in inpatient settings. Clinicians should be aware of populations who have an increased likelihood of experiencing polypharmacy and efforts should be made to review the appropriateness of prescribed medications and occurrence of adverse effects potentially associated with polypharmacy. Conclusions and implications Clinicians should be aware of the common occurrence of polypharmacy and undertake efforts to minimize inappropriate polypharmacy whenever possible.

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Pulmonary administration of corticosteroids reduces the incidence of BPD or death, pneumonia, PDA without causing any major side effects in preterm infants with RDS.

INTRODUCTION: Polypharmacy is common associated with several adverse health outcomes. There are currently no systematic reviews or meta-analyses on the prevalence of polypharmacy and associated factors. We aimed to identify population-based observational studies reporting on the prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases with no restriction on date. Population-based observational studies with cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort designs using administrative databases or registries to define or measure polypharmacy among individuals over 19. Using a standardized form, two reviewers independently extracted study characteristics, a crude prevalence rate of polypharmacy and its standard error with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk of bias and quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The main outcome was the prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy. Using a random-effects model, pooled prevalence estimates with 95% CI was reported. Subgroup analysis was performed if significant heterogeneity was explored. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to predict polypharmacy prevalence.RESULTS: 106 full-text articles were identifies using 21 unique terms with 138 descriptive definitions of polypharmacy. The pooled estimated prevalence polypharmacy in studies reporting all medication classes was 37% (95% CI: 31%-43%). Differences in polypharmacy prevalence were reported for studies using different numerical threshold and polypharmacy was also associated with study year in meta-regression. Sex, study geography, study design and study setting were not associated with differences in polypharmacy prevalence. DISCUSSION: Our review highlights that polypharmacy is common particularly among older adults and those in inpatient settings. A variety of definitions are used to define polypharmacy and differences in polypharmacy definitions may have implications for understanding the burden or polypharmacy and outcomes associated with polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians should be aware of the common occurrence of polypharmacy in all populations and undertake efforts to minimize inappropriate polypharmacy whenever possible.

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