Polypharmacy and Malnutrition: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in a Geriatric Population and Implications for Preventive Strategies

Purpose: Polypharmacy (PP) and malnutrition are two conditions that frequently occur in older patient groups. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between nutrition and PP in a cohort of older outpatients from Northern Sardinia, Italy. Methods: A database of 619 outpatients undergoing a specific drug therapy during the examination was analyzed. A multivariable analysis was performed using a logistic regression model, in which a dichotomized MNA score was the dependent variable, according to several covariates. Results: Exposure to ≥ five drugs was associated with a higher risk of malnutrition among males and females, as well as a higher risk of overt malnutrition among males and females compared to those exposed to four or fewer drugs. In addition, depression significantly increased the risk of malnutrition in both sexes, whereas cognitive status and comorbidity did not. Moreover, the effect of PP on nutritional status was statistically significant only for the global component of the MNA score. Conclusions: The present study detected a significant association between PP and an increased risk of malnutrition. Depressed mood was an additional independent predictor, whereas cognitive status and comorbidity did not reveal a significant association.