Is Education Level Associated with Polypharmacy in the Elderly Considering Socio-Economic Factors? A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background and purpose: The elderly population is more prone to chronic diseases, leading to polypharmacy, influenced by various factors. This study examined the relationship between education, socio-economics, and polypharmacy. Materials and Methods: As part of the initial phase of a cohort on the health status of the elderly in Amirkola City (northern Iran) initiated in ۲۰۱۱, this descriptive-analytical study (۲۰۲۳) involved individuals aged ۶۰ and above. A total of ۴۰۰ elderly participants were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected from the cohort database via demographic, medication, and medical history questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۳, employing descriptive statistics and ANOVA and Chi-square tests at ۰.۰۵ significant level. Results: In this study, ۴۰۰ elderly individuals with an average age of ۶۸.۱۸ ± ۷.۱۱ years participated. The average number of medications used was ۳.۸۰±۰.۰۴. No significant association was found between education and polypharmacy (P=۰.۱۲۷); However, the findings showed that increased education was associated with a decrease in polypharmacy. The highest medication usage (۴.۴۶±۳.۲۷) was observed among the illiterate elderly. No significant association was identified between education and polypharmacy when considering gender, occupation, income satisfaction, and marital status (P>۰.۰۵); yet, the majority of individuals experiencing polypharmacy were men, housewives, or retirees, those with low-income satisfaction, and married. Conclusion: The level of education had no significant relationship with polypharmacy considering socio-economics, despite the fact that the more literate elderly had less polypharmacy. Conducting studies to further evaluate the cause of the lack of association between education level and polypharmacy could help in evidence-based decision-making.

کلیدواژه ها:

Older adults ، Polypharmacy ، Medication use ، Education ، Socioeconomic factors