[en] Polypharmacy in older adults is associated with multiple negative consequences that may affect muscular function, independently from the presence of medical conditions. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association of sarcopenia with polypharmacy and higher number of medications. A systematic literature search of observational studies using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases was conducted from inception until June 2022. To determine if sarcopenia is associated with a higher risk of polypharmacy and increased number of medications, a meta-analysis using a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effects (CRD42022337539). Twenty-nine studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Sarcopenia was associated with a higher prevalence of polypharmacy (odds ratio [OR]: 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.23, 2.20], I2 = 84%, P < 0.01) and higher number of medications (mean difference: 1.39, 95% CI [0.59, 2.19], I2 = 95%, P < 0.01) compared with individuals without sarcopenia. Using meta-regression, a high variance was observed due to different populations (i.e., community-dwelling, nursing home residents, inpatients, outpatients) for both outcomes of polypharmacy (r = -0.338, SE = 0.1669, 95% CI [-0.67, -0.01], z = -2.03, P = 0.04) and number of medications (r = 0.589, SE = 0.2615, 95% CI [0.08, 1.10], z = 2.25, P = 0.02). This systematic review and meta-analysis reported a significantly increased risk of polypharmacy and higher number of medications in people with sarcopenia compared with individuals without this condition. Future research should clarify whether the specificity and number of medications is a direct contributor in accelerating the progression of muscle wasting and dysfunction contributing to sarcopenia in older adults.
Disciplines :
Public health, health care sciences & services
Author, co-author :
Prokopidis, Konstantinos ; Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK ; Society of Meta-research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK
Giannos, Panagiotis ; Society of Meta-research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK ; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
Reginster, Jean-Yves ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique ; WHO Collaborating Center for Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging, Liège, Belgium
Bruyère, Olivier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Santé publique, Epidémiologie et Economie de la santé
Petrovic, Mirko; Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Cherubini, Antonio; Geriatria, Accettazione Geriatrica e Centro di Ricerca per l'Invecchiamento, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
Triantafyllidis, Konstantinos K ; Society of Meta-research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK ; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust, London, UK
Kechagias, Konstantinos S; Society of Meta-research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK ; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
Dionyssiotis, Yannis; Medical School, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Clinic, General University Hospital Patras, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
Cesari, Matteo; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ; Geriatric Unit, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Milan, Italy
Ibrahim, Kinda; Academic Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK ; Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Scott, David; Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia ; Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Barbagallo, Mario; Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Veronese, Nicola ; Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Special interest group in Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses and the Task Force on Pharmaceutical Strategy of the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS)
The authors of this manuscript certify that they comply with the ethical guidelines for authorship and publishing in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.79
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