THE EFFECT OF POLYPHARMACY ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE ELDERLY
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https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2026v8n5p950-959Keywords:
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Population aging has led to significant changes in the global epidemiological profile, with na increased prevalence of chronic diseases and, consequently, a higher use of continuous medications among older adults. In this context, polypharmacy, commonly defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, has become a frequent condition in geriatric clinical practice and a major challenge for healthcare systems. This study aimed to critically analyze recent literature regarding the impact of polypharmacy on quality of life and life expectancy in the elderly population. This is a narrative literature review based on publications indexed in PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar between 2020 and 2025. The findings indicate that polypharmacy is consistently associated with na increased risk of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, recurrent hospitalizations, functional decline, frailty, and mortality. Additionally, quality of life is negatively affected due to reduced autonomy, cognitive impairment, and poor treatment adherence. It is concluded that polypharmacy represents na important risk factor for unfavorable clinical outcomes in older adults, requiring continuous monitoring and strategies focused on rational prescribing to promote healthy aging.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Amanda Beatriz Pinheiro Macedo, Fernanda Leão Giesta , Matheus Vieira das Neves , Nibya Soares de Laia, Yuri Coelho Mazzoni , Mannuelly Machado Bastos, Malena Machado Bastos, Pedro de Lima Maués, Ayla Estefânia Gaia Vieira, Isabella Cardoso Rodrigues , Isabella Guerreiro Diniz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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