Polypharmacy, age, and scheduled surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there is a correlation between the age of patients who present for scheduled surgery and the number of drugs taken by these patients.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Outpatient admissions.


METHODS
150 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients 40 years of age or older, scheduled for outpatient surgery.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Age, medical history, and prescription and nonprescription medications of these patients were recorded.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference among number of drugs taken by patients in different age groups [40 to 49 years: 3.2 +/- 3.1 (average number of drugs taken, standard deviation); 50 to 59 years: 3.6 +/- 3.1; 60 to 69 years: 4.0 +/- 2.9; 70 to 79 years: 4.4 +/- 2.7; 80+ years: 3.7 +/- 2.2].


CONCLUSIONS
Medical condition, which may, in part, be a function of biological age and not chronological age, is the primary determinant of the number of medications taken by patients presenting to an outpatient clinic for scheduled surgery.
Department of Anesthesiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
Amy W
AW
Davis
James E
JE
Heavner
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011446:Prospective Studies