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Journals / İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 11 Sayı: 2

Multidimensional Impact of Polypharmacy on Cognitive Function, Depression, Functionality, and Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Polifarmasinin Yaşlı Bireylerde Bilişsel Fonksiyon, Depresyon, Fonksiyonellik ve Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerindeki Çok Boyutlu Etkisi: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Emre Dansuk(İSTANBUL MEDİPOL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-4415-8101
Burak Menek(İSTANBUL MEDİPOL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5206-0254
Pages
245–251
Publication Date
2026-05-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive and individualized assessments of polypharmacy in geriatric populations.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of polypharmacy on cognitive function, depression levels, activities of daily living, and quality of life in individuals aged 65 years and older.
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Key Findings & Data:Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 164 older adults (mean age: 73 years) who presented to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive and individualized assessments of polypharmacy in geriatric populations.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:yaşlılar · bilişsel işlevler · depresyon

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of polypharmacy on cognitive function, depression levels, activities of daily living, and quality of life in individuals aged 65 years and older. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 164 older adults (mean age: 73 years) who presented to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Participants were divided into two groups based on the number of medications used: the polypharmacy group (≥5 medications) and the non-polypharmacy group (0–4 medications). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), depression with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), activities of daily living with the Barthel Index (BI), and quality of life with the WHOQOL-OLD scale. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of cognitive function (p = 0.910), depression levels (p = 0.585), or activities of daily living (p = 0.656). However, the non-polypharmacy group showed significantly higher scores in the WHOQOL-OLD total score (p = 0.013), as well as in the subdomains of social participation (p = 0.038), death and dying (p = 0.046), and intimacy (p = 0.046). Conclusion: Polypharmacy may negatively affect quality of life in older adults; however, its cognitive and functional effects may vary depending on sample characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive and individualized assessments of polypharmacy in geriatric populations.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, 65 yaş ve üzeri bireylerde polifarmasinin bilişsel fonksiyon, depresyon düzeyi, günlük yaşam aktiviteleri ve yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel tipteki bu çalışmaya, bir üniversite hastanesinin geriatri polikliniğine başvuran ve yaş ortalaması 73 olan toplam 164 yaşlı birey dahil edildi. Katılımcılar, kullandıkları ilaç sayısına göre polifarmasi (≥5 ilaç) ve polifarmasi olmayan (0–4 ilaç) olmak üzere iki gruba ayrıldı. Bilişsel işlevler Mini-Mental Durum Testi (MMSE), depresyon Geriatrik Depresyon Ölçeği (GDS), günlük yaşam aktiviteleri Barthel İndeksi (BI) ve yaşam kalitesi WHOQOL-OLD ölçeği ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Gruplar arasında bilişsel işlev (p = 0,910), depresyon düzeyi (p = 0,585) ve günlük yaşam aktiviteleri (p = 0,656) açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark saptanmadı. Ancak, polifarmasi olmayan grupta WHOQOL-OLD toplam puanı (p = 0,013) ile sosyal katılım (p = 0,038), ölüme ilişkin tutumlar (p = 0,046) ve yakın ilişkiler (p = 0,046) alt ölçeklerinde anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek skorlar elde edildi. Sonuç: Polifarmasi, yaşam kalitesini olumsuz yönde etkileyebilmektedir; ancak bilişsel ve fonksiyonel etkiler örneklem özelliklerine bağlı olarak değişkenlik gösterebilir. Bulgular, yaşlı bireylerde polifarmasiye ilişkin değerlendirmelerin kapsamlı ve bireye özgü yapılmasının önemini vurgulamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Dansuk, E., Menek, B. (2026). Multidimensional Impact of Polypharmacy on Cognitive Function, Depression, Functionality, and Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 2, 245–251. https://doi.org/10.61399/ikcusbfd.1704906

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