Taking Many Drugs Worsens
Nutrition In The Elderly

ORLANDO (Reuters Health) - Elderly people often take several medications, and a new study suggests that taking three or more may increase the risk of poor nutrition and weight loss, according to findings presented at the Experimental Biology 2001 meeting here.

In the study, Dr. Kristie Lancaster and colleagues from New York University surveyed 938 individuals, average age 77, who had participated in the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly program in Pennsylvania.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Lancaster explained that the study participants were asked how many prescription drugs they used, and their responses were compared with prescription drug claims. The researchers also reviewed the participants' medical records.

``We found that nutritional risk, meaning weight loss in non-obese patients, increased when the number of regular medications was at least three,'' Lancaster said. ``But the risk was greatest for people taking five or more medications.''

Lancaster noted that 82% of the study participants were women and 50% were white. Almost all of the participants were taking at least one drug and more than half took three or more.

``The patients who lost weight were more likely to complain of gastrointestinal problems, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing,'' she said. ``But it is unclear if those symptoms are side effects of the drugs used.'' She noted, however, that those symptoms are associated with ``drinking fewer liquids and taking in fewer nutrients.''

The bottom line, Lancaster pointed out, is that health professionals as well as family members of elderly people need to closely monitor medications and ``be aware that taking multiple drugs can lead to eating problems that result in sudden weight loss.''

Reference Source 89

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