Polypharmacy among Saudi seniors in Hail region: A cross-sectional study on prevalence and association with medication adherence

Polypharmacy, defined as the concurrent use of 5 or more medications, is prevalent among the older adults, particularly those with multiple chronic conditions. This study assesses the prevalence of polypharmacy among older adult patients in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia and explores its association with medication adherence. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 247 older adult patients (aged 60 and above) from an outpatient pharmacy in Hail between August and December 2023. Medication adherence was evaluated using the Simple Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were performed to assess the relationship between polypharmacy and adherence levels. The mean age of participants was 71.83 years, with females accounting for 51.4%. The study found that 52% of participants were engaged in polypharmacy, with hypertension (70.9%) and diabetes (60.3%) being the most prevalent chronic illnesses. A significant association was found between polypharmacy and medication adherence; 63.4% of individuals taking 5 or more medications reported nonadherence, compared to 36.6% among those taking fewer than 5 (χ² = 20.448, P < .001). Overall, 57.5% of participants demonstrated suboptimal adherence. The findings underscore the high prevalence of polypharmacy and its adverse effect on medication adherence among older adults in Hail. The significant association between the number of medications and adherence levels emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions, including educational programs and caregiver support, to enhance health outcomes in this vulnerable population.