Older adults taking 5 or more prescription drugs face higher risk of death, study finds

Researchers found that older adults taking five or more prescription medications had higher mortality rates compared to those taking fewer drugs, with each additional medication associated with a 7% increase in death risk. The study examined prescription drug use among older adults but did not establish whether the medications directly caused the increased mortality or whether the underlying health conditions requiring multiple drugs were responsible. The findings prompted discussion among medical professionals about deprescribing, the practice of reducing or eliminating medications when appropriate.

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