Correlation Between Polypharmacy and Gut Microbiota Compositional Changes in Older People Who Were Treated with Multidrug Therapy

This study investigates the correlation between polypharmacy and gut microbiota compositional changes in older people who were treated with multidrug therapy, aiming to provide insights into the complex interplay between medication use, gut microbiota, and aging. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to analyze microbial diversity in older patients with multiple chronic diseases and polypharmacy, and the results were compared with a control group of older people without multiple chronic diseases and not undergoing polypharmacy. The study revealed distinct differences in gut microbiota composition between the two groups, with lower alpha-diversity observed in multidrug therapy group. Furthermore, the analysis identified several significant differences in microbiome composition at the genus and family levels between the multidrug therapy and the control group. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the impact of polypharmacy on the gut microbiota and its relationship to overall health in older people. Additionally, the study provides insights into the potential effects of specific medications, such as antihypertensive drugs, proton pump inhibitors, and antibiotics, on the gut microbiota, highlighting the need for continued research in this critical area to optimize therapeutic strategies for the older population.