Many Older Americans With Heart Failure Take 10 or More Meds

A study published in Circulation: Heart Failure found older Americans hospitalized for heart failure usually are prescribed 10 medications, according to U.S. News & World Report . Researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital analyzed the medical charts of 558 adults 65 and older who were hospitalized in the United States between 2003 and 2014. When hospitalized, 84 percent were on five or more medications and 42 percent were taking 10 or more; when released, 95 percent of patients in the former group and 55 percent of those in the latter group were taking 10 or more drugs. Most of the prescribed drugs were not for subjects' heart failure or heart conditions. New York-Presbyterian's Parag Goyal said a larger number of medications elevates the risk of adverse drug reactions, which could lead to hospitalization, as well as affect quality of life. Moreover, about 90 percent of older adults with heart failure have at least three other medical conditions, while more than 60 percent have at least five. Yet the study suggested the advantages of medication may offset the risks of polypharmacy for people with certain conditions, like diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.