About this Research Topic
The field of geriatric pharmacotherapy is increasingly focused on the challenges of appropriate prescribing and deprescribing and represcribing in older patients. As individuals age, they often experience a rise in comorbidities and health needs, leading to the use of multiple medications prescribed by various healthcare providers. This polypharmacy can result in unrecognized drug interactions, posing significant risks due to the physiological changes associated with aging, such as sarcopenia, frailty, and cognitive decline. These factors increase the likelihood of adverse drug events and complications, highlighting the need for careful medication management. Recent studies have underscored the importance of recognizing polypharmacy and its impact on the health and quality of life of older adults. However, there remains a gap in effective strategies for rational deprescribing and represcribing, which is crucial for optimizing healthcare outcomes in this population. Current efforts are directed towards integrating regular drug regimen evaluations and active deprescribing and represcribing into Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments, yet more research is needed to refine these approaches and ensure their widespread implementation.
This Research Topic aims to explore innovative applications and strategies within the field of polypharmacy and deprescribing and represcribing in older patients. The primary objectives include understanding the physiological aspects affecting drug therapy in the elderly, assessing inappropriate medication use, and evaluating the incidence and prevalence of polypharmacy. Additionally, the research seeks to investigate the association between geriatric syndromes, comorbidities, and polypharmacy, as well as the benefits and methods of deprescribing and represcribing. By addressing these questions, the research aims to enhance the quality of care for older patients and reduce the risks associated with multiple drug therapies.
To gather further insights in the realm of geriatric pharmacotherapy, we welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Case Reports, Clinical Trials, and Opinion articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Physiological aspects affecting drug therapy in the older person.
• The assessment and definition of inappropriate medication use.
• The incidence and prevalence of polypharmacy in the older population.
• The association of geriatric syndromes and comorbidity with polypharmacy.
• The benefits of deprescribing and represcribing in the older patient and methods for achieving it.
• Attitudes and acceptability of deprescribing and represcribing by older people and caregivers.
• The use of deprescribing and represcribing in acute care, primary care, and nursing homes.
• Future directions in preventing and treating polypharmacy.
This Research Topic aims to explore innovative applications and strategies within the field of polypharmacy and deprescribing and represcribing in older patients. The primary objectives include understanding the physiological aspects affecting drug therapy in the elderly, assessing inappropriate medication use, and evaluating the incidence and prevalence of polypharmacy. Additionally, the research seeks to investigate the association between geriatric syndromes, comorbidities, and polypharmacy, as well as the benefits and methods of deprescribing and represcribing. By addressing these questions, the research aims to enhance the quality of care for older patients and reduce the risks associated with multiple drug therapies.
To gather further insights in the realm of geriatric pharmacotherapy, we welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Case Reports, Clinical Trials, and Opinion articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Physiological aspects affecting drug therapy in the older person.
• The assessment and definition of inappropriate medication use.
• The incidence and prevalence of polypharmacy in the older population.
• The association of geriatric syndromes and comorbidity with polypharmacy.
• The benefits of deprescribing and represcribing in the older patient and methods for achieving it.
• Attitudes and acceptability of deprescribing and represcribing by older people and caregivers.
• The use of deprescribing and represcribing in acute care, primary care, and nursing homes.
• Future directions in preventing and treating polypharmacy.
Keywords: Polypharmacy, De-prescribing, Aging, Multimorbidity, Quality of Life
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
