Polypharmacy Among People Living with Dementia — Israel and 24 Countries in European Union, 2015–2019

Abstract

What is already known about this topic? With a growing number of people living with dementia (PLWD), the practice of taking multiple medications to manage symptoms or comorbidities, i.e., polypharmacy, among PLWD has become a global health challenge. What is added by this report? In 2015–2019, polypharmacy for PLWD varied substantially among 25 studied countries, with approximately 1 in 5 Estonian PLWD and 4 in 5 Cypriot PLWD having polypharmacy. In addition, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic have experienced a significantly increasing trend in polypharmacy for PLWD. What are the implications for public health practice? Countries should pay special attention to polypharmacy and make efforts to control polypharmacy among PLWD, especially in countries where the trend of polypharmacy among PLWD has been increasing.