Affiliations 

  • 1 Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ministry of Health, Ipoh 30400, Perak, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • 3 Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Ministry of Health, Bandar Alor Setar, Alor Setar 05460, Kedah, Malaysia
  • 4 Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Taiping, Ministry of Health, Taiping 34000, Perak, Malaysia
  • 5 School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2021 Feb 25;14(3).
PMID: 33669084 DOI: 10.3390/ph14030187

Abstract

Drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly include polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, nonadherence, and drug-related falls. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the prevalence of DRPs and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among the Malaysian elderly was estimated. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies published since their inception up to 24 August 2020. A random-effects model was used to generate the pooled prevalence of DRPs along with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The heterogeneity of the results was estimated using the I2 statistics, and Cochran's Q test and sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the robustness of the results. We identified 526 studies, 23 of which were included in the meta-analysis. (n = 29,342). The pooled prevalence of DRPs among Malaysian elderly was as follows: (1) polypharmacy: 49.5% [95% CI: 20.5-78.6], (2) potentially inappropriate medications: 28.9% [95% CI: 25.4-32.3], (3) nonadherence to medications: 60.6% [95% CI: 50.2-70.9], and (4) medication-related falls 39.3% [95% CI: 0.0-80.8]. Approximately one in two Malaysian elderly used CAM. The prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications among the Malaysian elderly population was high, calling for measures and evidence-based guidelines to ensure the safe medication use.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.