Self-treatment is common in older adults: study

• A cross-sectional study conducted among 600 older adults across six Indian cities found high prevalence of polypharmacy and unsafe self-medication.
• Polypharmacy refers to the intake of five or more medications per day.
• Majority of self-medicating individuals lacked knowledge about self-medication and did not understand the risks associated with it.
• The study used an updated screening tool, the Older Persons’ Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment, (STOPP-START) criteria, to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and potential prescribing omissions (PPO).
• Polypharmacy prevalence was 33.7%, with significant associations to multiple comorbidities, recent transition of care, and recent hospitalisation.
• The most common medicines prescribed were antihypertensive medicines, antidiabetic medicines, hypolipidemic medicines, calcium supplements, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Self-medication prevalence was 19.7%, associated with factors such as staying alone, multiple comorbidities, and recent hospitalisations.
• The study emphasizes the need for interventions to promote safe medication use in older adults.