Table 6 Polypharmacy and its association with conditions and drug classes (bold numbers = significant results)

Polypharmacy in relation to the most frequent conditions

p-value ^a

Chronic conditions

n drugs in patients

with the condition

n drugs in patients without the condition

Hypertension

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.081

Arthrosis

10 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Diabetes mellitus II

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.004

Dyslipidaemia

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.901

Atrial fibrillation

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.721

Coronary heart disease

10 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.006

Osteoporosis

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.292

Depression

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.051

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.255

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

9 (8 – 10)

9 (8 – 11)

0.885

Chronic heart failure

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.443

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

10 (8 – 12)

9 (8 – 10)

0.016

Chronic renal failure

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.158

Hyperuricaemia and/or gout

9.5 (9 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.148

Hypothyroidism

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.472

Insomnia

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.923

Cerebrovascular disease

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.986

Polypharmacy in relation to the most frequent drug classes

p-value ^a

Drug classes

n drugs in patients

with the drug class

n drugs in patients without the drug class

ARBs/ACE-inhibitors

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.137

PPIs

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Statins

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.257

Platelet-aggregation inhibitors

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.056

Beta-blockers

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.461

Minor diuretics (predominantly hydrochlorothiazide)

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.642

CCBs

10 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.004

Loop diuretics (predominantly Furosemide)

10 (9 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Vitamins (predominantly vit. D)

10 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Antidepressants

10 (9 – 12)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Oral anticoagulants

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.620

Anxiolytics/hypnotics (Benzodiazepines + Zolpidem)

10 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Dietary supplements (predominantly Calcium)

10 (9 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Oral antidiabetic drugs

9.5 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.018

Antiasthmatic agents, beta-adrenergics, anticholinergics

10 (9 – 12)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Opioids

10 (9 – 12)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

Analgesics - Paracetamol

9 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 11)

0.385

Thyroid hormones

10 (8 – 11)

9 (8 – 10)

0.009

Corticosteroids

10 (9 – 12)

9 (8 – 10)

< 0.001

NSAIDs + COX-2-inhibitors (Coxibe)

9 (8 – 10)

9 (8 – 11)

0.716