Polypharmacy and multimorbidity

The last research roundup provided you with an overview of papers related to the subject of antimicrobial prescribing practices in patients being treated for SARS-CoV-2 either the use of these for COVID-19 itself or for detected secondary infection. This month we will be looking at polypharmacy and multimorbidity and the impact the COVID-19 global pandemic has had on prescribing practices in these areas, as well as the risk polypharmacy and multimorbidity carry to those who contract COVID-19.

This Canadian review paper by Potempski and Bilimoria (2021) aimed to highlight the common phenomenon of polypharmacy in the light of the COVID-19 global pandemic. They begin by pointing out that polypharmacy that is inappropriate (sic), is a recognised factor in many problem issues in healthcare. They highlight adverse drug events, excessive spending in the healthcare arena, and topically, the complications it can elucidate when managing these patients in a pandemic. They suggest that even appropriate polypharmacy proves a challenge in the latter issue.