Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, impacting various aspects of patient care. Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications by a single patient, is a significant concern exacerbated by the pandemic. The dual threat of COVID-19 infec...

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Main Authors: Evelina Gavazova, Radiana Staynova, Daniela Grekova-Kafalova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-02-01
Series:Folia Medica
Online Access:https://foliamedica.bg/article/144169/download/pdf/
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author Evelina Gavazova
Radiana Staynova
Daniela Grekova-Kafalova
author_facet Evelina Gavazova
Radiana Staynova
Daniela Grekova-Kafalova
author_sort Evelina Gavazova
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, impacting various aspects of patient care. Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications by a single patient, is a significant concern exacerbated by the pandemic. The dual threat of COVID-19 infection and polypharmacy for the same vulnerable group – the elderly and those with pre-existing multimorbidity – is particularly problematic, as polypharmacy has been shown to lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes in many chronic diseases. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted issues surrounding polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-672d8bb93a3942c0b83d0fdb7908e3a72025-08-20T02:45:33ZengPensoft PublishersFolia Medica1314-21432025-02-016711810.3897/folmed.67.e144169144169Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative reviewEvelina Gavazova0Radiana Staynova1Daniela Grekova-Kafalova2Medical University of PlovdivMedical University of PlovdivMedical University of PlovdivThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, impacting various aspects of patient care. Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications by a single patient, is a significant concern exacerbated by the pandemic. The dual threat of COVID-19 infection and polypharmacy for the same vulnerable group – the elderly and those with pre-existing multimorbidity – is particularly problematic, as polypharmacy has been shown to lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes in many chronic diseases. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted issues surrounding polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.https://foliamedica.bg/article/144169/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Evelina Gavazova
Radiana Staynova
Daniela Grekova-Kafalova
Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review
Folia Medica
title Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review
title_full Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review
title_fullStr Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review
title_short Inappropriate polypharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges, and solutions – a narrative review
title_sort inappropriate polypharmacy during the covid 19 pandemic impact challenges and solutions a narrative review
url https://foliamedica.bg/article/144169/download/pdf/
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