Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Limited comprehensive evidence exists on the global prevalence of polypharmacy. This knowledge gap contributes to increased healthcare system costs and related public health concerns. Thus, we aimed to synthesize the current evidence on polypharmacy prevalence and associated factors in the general and older populations using an umbrella review.
METHODS: Our primary outcomes were global prevalence and related indicators of polypharmacy. We systematically searched Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL for studies published between the inception of each database until April 30, 2023.
RESULTS: Eleven meta-analyses incorporating 295 studies and 59,552,762 participants from 41 countries across six continents were identified. The global prevalence of polypharmacy in the general population is 37 %, with higher rates in older individuals (45 %), outpatients (48 %), and inpatients (52 %). North America showed a higher prevalence (52 %) than Asia (36 %) and Europe (36 %). Among frail elderly individuals, the prevalence of polypharmacy is 59 %, with the highest rates in Europe (68 %) and hospital settings (71 %).
CONCLUSIONS: The global prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors in older adults present a complex, multifaceted, and conflicting picture. Understanding the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors may help reduce the number of multidrug prescriptions.
METHODS: Our primary outcomes were global prevalence and related indicators of polypharmacy. We systematically searched Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL for studies published between the inception of each database until April 30, 2023.
RESULTS: Eleven meta-analyses incorporating 295 studies and 59,552,762 participants from 41 countries across six continents were identified. The global prevalence of polypharmacy in the general population is 37 %, with higher rates in older individuals (45 %), outpatients (48 %), and inpatients (52 %). North America showed a higher prevalence (52 %) than Asia (36 %) and Europe (36 %). Among frail elderly individuals, the prevalence of polypharmacy is 59 %, with the highest rates in Europe (68 %) and hospital settings (71 %).
CONCLUSIONS: The global prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors in older adults present a complex, multifaceted, and conflicting picture. Understanding the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors may help reduce the number of multidrug prescriptions.
摘要：
目的：关于全球多药流行的综合证据有限。这种知识差距有助于增加医疗保健系统的成本和相关的公共卫生问题。因此，我们的目的是通过一项综合性综述,综合目前在普通人群和老年人群中关于多药疗法患病率和相关因素的证据.
方法：我们的主要结果是全球患病率和多重用药的相关指标。我们系统地搜索了谷歌学者，PubMed/MEDLINE,Embase,和CINAHL在每个数据库开始到2023年4月30日之间发表的研究。
结果：确定了11项荟萃分析，纳入了295项研究和来自六大洲41个国家的59,552,762名参与者。在普通人群中，多重用药的全球患病率为37％，老年人的发病率较高(45%)，门诊病人（48%），住院患者（52%）。北美的患病率（52％）高于亚洲（36％）和欧洲（36％）。在虚弱的老年人中，多重用药的患病率为59%，在欧洲（68%）和医院（71%）的发病率最高。
结论：在老年人中，多重用药的全球患病率及其相关因素呈现出一个复杂的，多方面,矛盾的画面。了解多种药物的流行及其相关因素可能有助于减少多种药物处方的数量。
方法：我们的主要结果是全球患病率和多重用药的相关指标。我们系统地搜索了谷歌学者，PubMed/MEDLINE,Embase,和CINAHL在每个数据库开始到2023年4月30日之间发表的研究。
结果：确定了11项荟萃分析，纳入了295项研究和来自六大洲41个国家的59,552,762名参与者。在普通人群中，多重用药的全球患病率为37％，老年人的发病率较高(45%)，门诊病人（48%），住院患者（52%）。北美的患病率（52％）高于亚洲（36％）和欧洲（36％）。在虚弱的老年人中，多重用药的患病率为59%，在欧洲（68%）和医院（71%）的发病率最高。
结论：在老年人中，多重用药的全球患病率及其相关因素呈现出一个复杂的，多方面,矛盾的画面。了解多种药物的流行及其相关因素可能有助于减少多种药物处方的数量。
