Polypharmacy and multiple sclerosis: A population-based study.

BackgroundLittle is known about polypharmacy and multiple sclerosis (MS).ObjectivesTo estimate polypharmacy prevalence in a population-based MS cohort and compare persons with/without polypharmacy.MethodsUsing administrative and pharmacy data from Canada, we estimated polypharmacy prevalence (⩾5 concurrent medications for >30 consecutive days) in MS individuals in 2017. We compared the characteristics of persons with/without polypharmacy and described the number of polypharmacy days, the most common medication classes contributing to polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy prevalence (⩾10 medications).ResultsOf 14,227 included individuals (75% women), mean age = 55.4 (standard deviation (SD): 13.2) years; 28% (n = 3995) met criteria for polypharmacy (median polypharmacy days = 273 (interquartile range (IQR): 120-345)). Odds of polypharmacy were higher for women (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.14; 95% confidence intervals (CI):1.04-1.25), older individuals (aORs 50-64 years = 2.04; 95% CI:1.84-2.26; ⩾65 years = 3.26; 95% CI: 2.92-3.63 vs. ConclusionMore than one in four MS persons met criteria for polypharmacy. The odds of polypharmacy were higher for women, older persons, and those with more comorbidities, but lower SES.