Background/Objectives: Older adults are vulnerable to inappropriate prescribing and polypharmacy, yet data from the United Arab Emirates are scarce. We estimated the prevalence and correlates of polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy among Emirati community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 Emiratis aged ≥60 years registered at primary health centers in Ras Al Khaimah used convenience sampling. Data on chronic conditions, medications, and function (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living Katz ADL; Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale Lawton IADL) were collected using a structured Arabic questionnaire. Polypharmacy was defined as 5–9 and hyper-polypharmacy as ≥10 medications. Results: Overall, 60% used 5–9 and 40% ≥10 medications; 90% had ≥1 chronic disease and 83% used non-prescribed drugs, commonly analgesics, vitamins, and laxatives. Higher medication burden was associated with poorer ADL and IADL. Younger age and lower Katz ADL scores predicted hyper-polypharmacy. Conclusions: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent and linked to functional limitations, supporting routine medication review, deprescribing, and monitoring of non-prescribed use.
Ibrahim et al. (Wed,) studied this question.