Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of multiple medications, often extending to inappropriate or excessive drug use. It is influenced by factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and comorbid conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and renal disease. This phenomenon increases the risk of drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and non-adherence. Addressing polypharmacy requires patient education, appropriate prescribing, and interprofessional collaboration to ensure safe and effective treatment outcomes. Aim of the study was to determine the Risk Factors of Polypharmacy in Elderly Patients in Baghdad city. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a Google Form to assess polypharmacy among 76 elderly patients in Baghdad with chronic diseases. Participants were classified by gender, education level, and family support. The study aimed to identify demographic factors influencing medication use and adherence.
Show that the average number of medications used was significantly higher among males compared to females [p = 0.016]. However, there were no significant differences based on educational level [p = 0.566] or family support [p = 0.647]. Gender appears to be the most influential factor in the prevalence of polypharmacy among the elderly