| Summary: | 碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 藥學研究所碩士班 === 92 === Background Polypharmacy (concomitant use of more than 5 drugs) is associated with health related problems, such as adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, poor compliance and increased risk of hospitalization. But the research about polypharmacy is scarce in Taiwan.
Objective Not only to analyze the annual prevalence of polypharmacy in ambulatory visits in Taiwan and the effect of urbanization on polypharmacy but also to identify the individuals who are exposed to polypharmacy.
Methods The NHI Research Databases for the years of 1997-2001 was used as the study material including only the claim data form ambulatory services. In order to observe the annual prevalence, a random day was chosen within a year. The anatomical therapeutic classification was applied for coding the prescription drugs. SAS for windows 8.2 was used for data management and statistic analysis.
Results On a random day within a year from 1997-2001, at least 30 % of the people were exposed to polypharmacy. The sex did not differ in the prevalence of polypharmacy. And urbanization had slightly negative relationship with polypharmacy. Over half of the people in 0-9 yrs or over 80yrs were exposed to polypharmacy. Diseases about respiratory (53.01%), circulatory (7.14%), musculoskeletal system (6.58%), digestive system (5.79%), skin and subcutaneous tissue (5.05%) were often treated with polypharmacy. (p<0.0001) Digestive drugs, nervous system drugs, and respiratory drugs were often involved in polypharmacy among the elderly.
Conclusion Polypharmacy is widespread in Taiwan, especially existed in people < 9 yr or > 80 yr. Respiratory disease not only the most common diagnosis, treated most with polypharmacy as well. Clinicians who are responsible for quality care programs should intensify their surveillance of the groups most prone to polypharmacy.
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