Prevalence of Perceived Stress Among Polypharmacy Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The concurrent use of 5 or more medications is the most recognized definition of polypharmacy. Many physical and mental consequences could be associated with polypharmacy, and stress is no exception. The objective of the current study is to investigate the prevalence of perceived stress among polypharmacy individuals and its association with sociodemographic factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out between September and December at 6 major hospitals and several private clinics in Iraq. Study participants were required to have at least 2 chronic diseases and be using 5 or more drugs for at least 90 days, aged 50 years or older. Sociodemographic data and the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10) were completed by participants. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the median PSS-10 scores for different sociodemographic factors. Results: Among the 235 polypharmacy participants, the median PSS-10 score was 20. Moreover, the median PSS-10 score was significantly higher among female participants, those with an increased number of chronic diseases, the presence of adverse effects, and participants with financial issues related to healthcare (P <0.05). Conclusion: The present findings indicate a moderate perceived stress score among polypharmacy participants, highlighting the need for strategies to alleviate stress alongside personalized medication management.