Study: Polypharmacy Nearly Doubled in 20 Years Among Older Adults in US

More than 4 out of every 10 adults aged 65 years or older reported using 5 or more prescription medications in the past 30 days between 2017 and 2020, according to an analysis of cross-sectional survey data from about 14 900 participants. Only about 24% of older people between 1999 and 2000 said they had used 5 or more medications during the past month, which the researchers defined as polypharmacy.