title: Polypharmacy and decreased cognitive abilities in elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of poly pharmacy and poly pharmacy effect on decline in cognitive abilities of randomly selected group of people over 65.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preliminary pilot study was based on the results of other researchers. 54 patients over 65 were randomly interviewed. Poly pharmacy was defined as using 23 drugs. "A short portable mental status questionnaire" was used in estimating decline of cognitive abilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the study results it was concluded that prevalence of poly pharmacy by the elderly is significant--48.1%. Most present drugs are the ones treating cardiovascular disease, anti diabetic, anti-inflammatory drugs, long acting benzodiazepines, antihistamines. Of the total respondents 33.3% of them live alone and do not have adequate supervision. We have found that poly pharmacy resulted in decline of cognitive abilities in 23 of 54 patients tested in rapid mental status check.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to conduct future research on this issue.
authors.affiliation: Educational Center of Family Medicine, Primary Health Care Center Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. dralic@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alic
authors.forename: Nurka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pranjic
authors.forename: Enisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D019338:Polypharmacy