Which demographic is most often affected by polypharmacy?

Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, and it is most commonly associated with the elderly population. As individuals age, they often experience multiple health conditions that necessitate the use of different medications, leading to an increased risk of polypharmacy. This demographic typically has a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis, all of which might require pharmacological management.

Elderly patients may also face challenges with medication management due to age-related physiological changes, which can affect drug metabolism and increase susceptibility to adverse drug interactions. Additionally, the elderly population often sees a higher incidence of cognitive decline, making self-management of multiple medications more complicated and increasing the risk of errors in medication administration.

In contrast, children under 12 generally have fewer chronic conditions, and middle-aged adults may not be on as many medications as the elderly, while adults aged 30-50 are still relatively less likely to require multiple prescriptions at the same time. Thus, the highest rates of polypharmacy are observed in the elderly population, making them the most affected demographic in this context.