Polypharmacy practices in the older population: a local community audit

Polypharmacy has been prevalent for over a century and is often associated with frail older patients with multiple co-morbidities. Recognising its risks, the World Health Organization has emphasised the urgent need to address inappropriate polypharmacy, given its links to increased adverse drug reactions, medication misuse, and non-adherence. These factors contribute to avoidable hospitalisations, heightened morbidity and mortality, and significant financial strain on the NHS due to excessive drug costs and waste. Despite these concerns, inappropriate polypharmacy remains a persistent challenge, particularly for general physicians and advanced clinical practitioners in primary care, who often face time and resource constraints in managing it effectively. This article presents a local audit aimed at identifying polypharmacy trends in the elderly population and explores strategies and clinical tools to optimise medication management, ensuring polypharmacy is both appropriate and effective.