# Prevalence and Associated Factors of Polypharmacy Among Emirati Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey

## TL;DR

This study found that many older adults in the UAE take multiple medications, which is linked to poorer health and daily functioning.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on polypharmacy prevalence and its association with functional limitations in Emirati older adults.

## Key findings

- 60% of older adults took 5–9 medications, and 40% took 10 or more.
- Hyper-polypharmacy was linked to lower scores in daily living activities.
- Non-prescribed drugs like analgesics and vitamins were commonly used.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Polypharmacy (5–9 medications) and hyper-polypharmacy (≥10 medications) were highly prevalent among Emirati community-dwelling older adults attending primary care in Ras Al Khaimah.Hyper-polypharmacy was associated with poorer functional status (lower Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scores).

Polypharmacy (5–9 medications) and hyper-polypharmacy (≥10 medications) were highly prevalent among Emirati community-dwelling older adults attending primary care in Ras Al Khaimah.

Hyper-polypharmacy was associated with poorer functional status (lower Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scores).

What are the implications of the main findings?
Routine medication review and deprescribing should be integrated into primary care for older adults, prioritizing individuals with functional limitations.Use of non-prescribed products (OTC medicines, supplements, and herbal/traditional remedies) was common and should be explicitly documented and addressed during medication review.

Routine medication review and deprescribing should be integrated into primary care for older adults, prioritizing individuals with functional limitations.

Use of non-prescribed products (OTC medicines, supplements, and herbal/traditional remedies) was common and should be explicitly documented and addressed during medication review.

Background/Objectives: Older adults are vulnerable to inappropriate prescribing and polypharmacy, yet data from the United Arab Emirates are scarce. We estimated the prevalence and correlates of polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy among Emirati community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 Emiratis aged ≥60 years registered at primary health centers in Ras Al Khaimah used convenience sampling. Data on chronic conditions, medications, and function (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living [Katz ADL]; Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale [Lawton IADL]) were collected using a structured Arabic questionnaire. Polypharmacy was defined as 5–9 and hyper-polypharmacy as ≥10 medications. Results: Overall, 60% used 5–9 and 40% ≥10 medications; 90% had ≥1 chronic disease and 83% used non-prescribed drugs, commonly analgesics, vitamins, and laxatives. Higher medication burden was associated with poorer ADL and IADL. Younger age and lower Katz ADL scores predicted hyper-polypharmacy. Conclusions: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent and linked to functional limitations, supporting routine medication review, deprescribing, and monitoring of non-prescribed use.