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Life sciences · Journal article
Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders · September 8, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This cross-sectional study found that 20.8% of 558 elderly Iranian patients with dyslipidemia were exposed to polypharmacy (≥5 medications), with increased risk associated with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and urban residence. The design permits only association, not causal inference, and results are specific to a defined cohort and health system; generalizability and clinical actionability remain uncertain without prospective validation.
Cross-sectional population-based study. Elderly patients aged ≥60 years (mean age 67 years, 55% female) with dyslipidemia enrolled in Iranian national osteoporosis study cohort.. n = 558. Iran (multicenter national study)..
Polypharmacy prevalence 20.8% (95% CI: 17.2–24.9) in elderly dyslipidemia population, higher in females 22.4% vs. males 18.8% Hypertension associated with polypharmacy (AOR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2–4.4) Diabetes associated with polypharmacy (AOR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.64–4.8)
Polypharmacy defined as ≥5 medications without validation against explicit deprescribing criteria or clinical outcome measures. No data on medication appropriateness, adherence, adverse outcomes, or impact of medication review interventions reported.
Findings underscore that elderly dyslipidemia patients, especially those with comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), are at higher risk of polypharmacy and may benefit from systematic medication review. However, this cross-sectional association cannot guide intervention without prospective evidence of harm reduction or benefit from deprescribing.
Cross-sectional observational study with modest sample size identifying associations in a specific population; descriptive rather than explanatory, no causal inference possible, and findings need confirmation in prospective or interventional designs.
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Findings underscore that elderly dyslipidemia patients, especially those with comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), are at higher risk of polypharmacy and may benefit from systematic medication review. However, this cross-sectional association cannot guide intervention without prospective evidence of harm reduction or benefit from deprescribing.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Background. Elderly patients with dyslipidemia are at higher risk of medication adverse effects and poor health outcomes due to polypharmacy. This study assesses polypharmacy status and its associated risk factors in elderly populations with dyslipidemia.Methods. This cross-sectional population-based study analyzed data of elderly population (aged ≥ 60 years) from national Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS-2021). Polypharmacy and dyslipidemia were defined as ≥ 5 medications, and presence of any lipid abnormality or current use of lipid-lowering medications, respectively. Hypercholesterolemia was considered as total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, low High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol as < 40 mg/dL in male, and < 50 mg/dL in female, high Low-Density Lipoprotein- Cholesterol as ≥ 130 mg/dL, and hypertriglyceridemia as triglyceride ≥ 150 mg/dL in accordance with NCEP ATPIII guideline. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations and reported the results as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results. Among the 558 patients evaluated (mean age of 67 years), 55% were female, and 20.8% (95% CI: 17.2-24.9) were exposed to polypharmacy, which was more common in females than males (22.4% vs. 18.8%). The multivariable analysis identified higher AOR of polypharmacy in individuals with hypertension (AOR 2.3; 95%CI: 1.2-4.4), diabetes (2.8; 1.64-4.8), cardiovascular disease (3.2; 1.8-5.7), and urban residents (2.2; 1.2-4.0), whereas better self-rated health was protective (0.6; 0.4-0.9).Conclusions. Our findings highlight the clinical complexity of this group and need for systematic medication review. Healthcare professionals should be trained about the potential negative effects of unnecessary prescriptions on health status of elderly populations with dyslipidemia.
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