Association of polypharmacy with occurrence of loneliness and social isolation among older adults

Confronting polypharmacy and social isolation in elderly care: a general practitioner’s perspective on holistic primary care

“…Polypharmacy, defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, is becoming a staple in the treatment regimens of our aging patients (Delara et al, 2022). Both empirical research and clinical observations highlight the dangers associated with polypharmacy, including adverse drug reactions, falls, potential drug interactions, and a heightened likelihood of hospital admissions (Masnoon et al, 2017;Svensson et al, 2023). In general, polypharmacy could be seen as exacerbating the physical effects of aging.…”

“…For example, a lack of social support can lead to irregular medication intake, missed appointments, worsened health behaviours, and a general decline in health vigilance. Patients who are socially isolated have been found to exhibit suboptimal medication compliance and overall health management, which further exacerbates their physical health conditions (Siqeca et al, 2022;Svensson et al, 2023). This scenario underscores the importance of incorporating social care into the management plan for elderly patients (de Jong Gierveld and van Tilburg, 1999;Leigh-Hunt et al, 2017;Masnoon et al, 2017).…”

“…In our roles as general practitioners, we frequently encounter the complex issues of polypharmacy and social isolation, especially among our elderly patients (Svensson et al, 2023). The interconnected nature of these challenges underscores the critical need for a holistic approach in primary care (Siqeca et al, 2022).…”

Relationship between social networks and medication counts: A 1‐year follow‐up pilot study

“…2,3 Medication counts were associated with loneliness and social isolation among older adults. 4 Pathways to social isolation due to medication counts might be associated with cumulative side-effects, increased morbidity, worsened physical performance, function, self-perceived health and symptoms, and cognitive decline. 4 Therefore, clarifying the detailed relationship between medication counts and changes in social isolation could be useful for establishing approaches to improving social isolation.…”

“…4 Pathways to social isolation due to medication counts might be associated with cumulative side-effects, increased morbidity, worsened physical performance, function, self-perceived health and symptoms, and cognitive decline. 4 Therefore, clarifying the detailed relationship between medication counts and changes in social isolation could be useful for establishing approaches to improving social isolation. However, whether improving or worsening social isolation has an impact on medication counts remains unclear.…”