Prevalence of Polypharmacy among the Geriatric Population in the Nearby Field Area of Indira Gandhi Hospital

Background: Population aging is a global phenomenon and represents a major public health challenge.Increased life expectancy and the growing burden of chronic diseases have resulted in increased medication use among older adults.Polypharmacy, commonly defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, is associated with adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, poor compliance, hospitalization, and increased healthcare expenditure.Although polypharmacy has become an important issue among elderly individuals, community-based studies from India remain limited.Aim: To determine the prevalence and pattern of polypharmacy among the geriatric population residing in the nearby field area of Indira Gandhi Hospital, Dwarka Sector 9, New Delhi.Materials and methods: A community-based observational cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 3 months from 8 September to 7 November 2025.A total of 179 elderly individuals aged 65 years and above were selected by multistage simple random sampling.Information regarding demographic characteristics, disease profile, medication use, prescribing practices, self-medication, and adverse drug reactions was collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire.Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.Descriptive statistics were expressed as frequencies and percentages, and the Chi-square test was applied to assess associations between variables.A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Among the 179 study participants, 109 (60.89%) were males, and 70 (39.11%)were females.Most participants belonged to the agegroup of 70-74 years (41.90%).Overall, 164 (91.62%) participants were taking at least one medication.Hypertension (26.15%) and diabetes mellitus (24.87%) were the most common morbidities.Polypharmacy was observed in 38 participants (21.23%).Antihypertensive drugs (18.99%) and hypoglycemic agents (18.22%) were the most commonly consumed medications.Self-medication without a prescription was reported by 9.50% of participants, whereas adverse drug reactions were observed in 6.70%.Conclusion: The prevalence of polypharmacy among elderly individuals residing in the nearby field area of Indira Gandhi Hospital was 21.23%.Rational prescribing, periodic medication review, and patient education are essential to reduce medication-related complications and improve the quality of care among older adults.