A prediction model for polypharmacy: are older, educated women more susceptible to an adverse drug event?
BACKGROUND
This study attempts to account for variation in the number of prescription medications concurrently consumed in geriatric populations.


METHODS
Data were selected from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, III, 1988-1994 (NHANES III), Adult Household Questionnaire, a complex, multistage, clustered sampling of civilian, non-institutionalized populations, which included a volunteer sample of 5,249 individuals aged 65 and older who participated in NHANES III survey, representing four broad geographic regions and twelve states.


RESULTS
Age, income, and educational level accounted for nine percent of the variation in the number of prescription medications concurrently taken (p < 0.0001); though non-significant, there were gender differences regarding polypharmacy; in addition, there were significant differences with respect to educational levels by region and age by region (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Educational level accounted for the most variation in polypharmacy. Women, on average, consumed more prescription medications than men. Older, more educated women may be most likely to engage in polypharmaceutical consumption, suggesting a greater likelihood of an adverse drug event.
Perry
B A
BA
University of Arkansas, College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health Science, Fayetteville 72701, USA. BAPerry@aol.com
Turner
L W
LW
D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health