UnknownNot Applicable

Polypharmacy Among Internal Medicine Patients

Iceland85,942 participantsStarted 2023-01-01

Plain-language summary

The World Health Organisation Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm has brought our attention to the importance of medication-related harm as a global public health issue. One of the major contributing factors is polypharmacy, the usage of multiple medicines at the same time. People are getting older and living longer with chronic diseases; they need more medications, which frequently leads to polypharmacy. Subsequently, they are at more risk of medication-related harm. The planned project is an epidemiological study on polypharmacy, medication appropriateness, risk factors, and clinical outcomes post-discharge from a hospital for internal medicine patients. The study group hypothesise that pre- and post-admission polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing is common, especially among older patients, patients with a high comorbidity and frailty burden. Our hypothesis is additionally that preadmission polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing is associated with higher short- and long-term mortality, a longer primary hospitalization length of stay, and a higher risk of readmission.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Population-based cohort study that included all patients ≥18 years hospitalized in internal medicine ward at Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland during the study period 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020 Exclusion Criteria: * Under 18 years of age

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Prevalence of polypharmacy

Timeframe: Two years, one year pre-admission and one year post-admisson, 2010-2020

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05756400

SponsorUniversity of Iceland

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2024-04-01

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