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Association of polypharmacy, fall-risk-increasing drugs, and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation among older adults

Svensson, Markus LU ; Ekström, Henrik LU ; Elmståhl, Sölve LU and Rosso, Aldana LU orcid (2024) In Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus 1(4). p.1-7
Abstract
Background
Polypharmacy has been linked with social isolation and loneliness among older people. The roles of different medication groups to this association are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine associations of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 6714 adults aged 60 years and above living in southern Sweden. Participants were examined between 2001 and 2021. Associations of polypharmacy, FRIDs, and cardiovascular drugs with social isolation and loneliness were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models.
Results
FRIDs were associated with feelings of loneliness (OR, 2.00; 95 % CI, 1.75–2.29;... (More)
Background
Polypharmacy has been linked with social isolation and loneliness among older people. The roles of different medication groups to this association are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine associations of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 6714 adults aged 60 years and above living in southern Sweden. Participants were examined between 2001 and 2021. Associations of polypharmacy, FRIDs, and cardiovascular drugs with social isolation and loneliness were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models.
Results
FRIDs were associated with feelings of loneliness (OR, 2.00; 95 % CI, 1.75–2.29; P < 0.001). In contrast, polypharmacy (OR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 0.93–1.25; P = 0.34), and cardiovascular drugs (OR, 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.84–1.13; P = 0.71) were not associated with loneliness. Neither polypharmacy (OR, 1.17; 95 % CI, 0.99–1.38; P = 0.07), FRIDs (OR, 1.10; 95 % CI, 0.95–1.28; P = 0.20), nor cardiovascular drugs (OR, 0.96; 95 % CI, 0.81–1.14; P = 0.63) were associated with social isolation.
Conclusions
FRIDs, but neither polypharmacy nor cardiovascular drugs, were associated with loneliness. Findings may indicate that medication class, not simply the share number of medications, is important in terms of loneliness. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus
volume
1
issue
4
article number
100089
pages
1 - 7
DOI
10.1016/j.aggp.2024.100089
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0b471436-21c1-466b-8e57-4d1be72e5c49
date added to LUP
2025-02-20 15:32:57
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:20:53
@article{0b471436-21c1-466b-8e57-4d1be72e5c49,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/>Polypharmacy has been linked with social isolation and loneliness among older people. The roles of different medication groups to this association are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine associations of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation.<br/>Methods<br/>This cross-sectional study included 6714 adults aged 60 years and above living in southern Sweden. Participants were examined between 2001 and 2021. Associations of polypharmacy, FRIDs, and cardiovascular drugs with social isolation and loneliness were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models.<br/>Results<br/>FRIDs were associated with feelings of loneliness (OR, 2.00; 95 % CI, 1.75–2.29; P &lt; 0.001). In contrast, polypharmacy (OR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 0.93–1.25; P = 0.34), and cardiovascular drugs (OR, 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.84–1.13; P = 0.71) were not associated with loneliness. Neither polypharmacy (OR, 1.17; 95 % CI, 0.99–1.38; P = 0.07), FRIDs (OR, 1.10; 95 % CI, 0.95–1.28; P = 0.20), nor cardiovascular drugs (OR, 0.96; 95 % CI, 0.81–1.14; P = 0.63) were associated with social isolation.<br/>Conclusions<br/>FRIDs, but neither polypharmacy nor cardiovascular drugs, were associated with loneliness. Findings may indicate that medication class, not simply the share number of medications, is important in terms of loneliness.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Markus and Ekström, Henrik and Elmståhl, Sölve and Rosso, Aldana}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1--7}},
  series       = {{Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus}},
  title        = {{Association of polypharmacy, fall-risk-increasing drugs, and cardiovascular drugs with loneliness and social isolation among older adults}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aggp.2024.100089}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.aggp.2024.100089}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}