Multi-Morbidity and Polypharmacy in Older People: Challenges and Opportunities for Clinical Practice

Pritti Aggarwal; Stephen J Woolford; Harnish P Patel

doi:10.3390/geriatrics5040085

Multi-Morbidity and Polypharmacy in Older People: Challenges and Opportunities for Clinical Practice

Geriatrics (Basel). 2020 Oct 28;5(4):85. doi: 10.3390/geriatrics5040085.

Authors

Pritti Aggarwal^{1

2

3}, Stephen J Woolford⁴, Harnish P Patel^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group, Southampton SO16 4GX, UK.
² Living Well Partnership, Southampton SO19 9GH, UK.
³ School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
⁴ Medicine for Older People, University Hospital Southampton NHS FT, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
⁵ Academic Geriatric Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
⁶ NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS FT, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.

Abstract

Multi-morbidity and polypharmacy are common in older people and pose a challenge for health and social care systems, especially in the context of global population ageing. They are complex and interrelated concepts in the care of older people that require early detection and patient-centred shared decision making underpinned by multi-disciplinary team-led comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) across all health and social care settings. Personalised care plans need to remain responsive and adaptable to the needs and wishes of the patient, enabling the individual to maintain their independence. In this review, we aim to give an up-to-date account of the recognition and management of multi-morbidity and polypharmacy in the older person.

Keywords: age-friendly care; comprehensive geriatric assessment; deprescribing; frailty; multi-morbidity; patient priority care; polypharmacy.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding