Polypill therapy and frailty in elderly: Time to stop treating everything

Authors

  • Sunil Kumar Professor, Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9905-4831
  • Parth Godhiwala Post Graduate Resident, Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0869-9816
  • Amrutha Garikapati Post Graduate Resident, Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-9874
  • Shraddha Jain Professor, Department of ENT, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1455-1850

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i4.33182

Keywords:

Elderly, Frail, Hospitalization, Mortality, Polypill

Abstract

Background: Frailty is a reversible age-related condition of increased vulnerability and risk of death or unplanned hospitalization. Frailty and polypill therapy are common in elderly, although little is known about the impact, they may have on each other.

Aims and Objective: The study was a prospective observational study, designed with an aim to observe the six-month and one-year outcomes of elderly patients on polypill therapy.

Material and Methods: Three hundred forty-two patients aged more than 60 years on polypill treatment were enrolled in this study, which were on regular follow up in our rural hospital at geriatric units of medicine department.

Results: At the end of one year, 38.1% were in severe frailty (FIRE >0.7) category, out of which death happened at the end of one year were 41.6%. 47.6% required repeated hospitalisations that were on polypill therapy.

Conclusions: A reduction of polypill therapy could be a cautious strategy to prevent and manage frailty. Further research is needed to confirm the possible benefits of reducing polypill in the development, reversion or delay of frailty.

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Published

2021-04-01

How to Cite

Kumar, S., Godhiwala, P., Garikapati, A., & Jain, S. (2021). Polypill therapy and frailty in elderly: Time to stop treating everything. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 12(4), 39–42. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i4.33182

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2021)

Section

Original Articles

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