Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract Background Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may have various comorbid illnesses, which necessitates the prescription of multiple drugs. Polypharmacy can raise the risk of adverse drug events, drug interactions, and medication non-adherence, even though using numerous medications is not...

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Main Authors: Fasil Bayafers Tamene, Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke, Akalu Fetene Desalew, Getachew Yitayew Tarekegn, Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie, Selamawit Mengstu Tafere, Mekdes Kiflu, Tilaye Arega Moges, Fisseha Nigussie Dagnew, Samuel Agegnew Wondm
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Endocrine Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-02011-1
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author Fasil Bayafers Tamene
Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke
Akalu Fetene Desalew
Getachew Yitayew Tarekegn
Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie
Selamawit Mengstu Tafere
Mekdes Kiflu
Tilaye Arega Moges
Fisseha Nigussie Dagnew
Samuel Agegnew Wondm
author_facet Fasil Bayafers Tamene
Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke
Akalu Fetene Desalew
Getachew Yitayew Tarekegn
Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie
Selamawit Mengstu Tafere
Mekdes Kiflu
Tilaye Arega Moges
Fisseha Nigussie Dagnew
Samuel Agegnew Wondm
author_sort Fasil Bayafers Tamene
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may have various comorbid illnesses, which necessitates the prescription of multiple drugs. Polypharmacy can raise the risk of adverse drug events, drug interactions, and medication non-adherence, even though using numerous medications is not always inappropriate. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) with comorbidity in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 T2DM patients with comorbidity in Northwest Ethiopia from April 1 to June 30, 2023. A consecutive sampling technique was used to enroll study participants. Data were entered using EpiData version 4.6.0 and analyzed with SPSS version 26. Polypharmacy was determined by reviewing the number and type of medications based on relevant evidence. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with polypharmacy. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of polypharmacy was 59.1%. Duration of illness (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.07) hypoglycemia (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.45, 5.21) and comorbidity of four, five or more (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.15), (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.47, 7.09) were significantly associated with polypharmacy. Conclusion and recommendation In this study, more than half of the participants were found to be on polypharmacy. Patients with longer duration of illness, hypoglycemia and multiple comorbidities need routine follow-up to reduce the rate of polypharmacy.
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spelling doaj-art-e449d5b15b2d473db00e48c5fa949fd52025-08-20T03:46:04ZengBMCBMC Endocrine Disorders1472-68232025-07-012511710.1186/s12902-025-02011-1Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest EthiopiaFasil Bayafers Tamene0Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke1Akalu Fetene Desalew2Getachew Yitayew Tarekegn3Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie4Selamawit Mengstu Tafere5Mekdes Kiflu6Tilaye Arega Moges7Fisseha Nigussie Dagnew8Samuel Agegnew Wondm9Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of GondarDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos UniversityAbstract Background Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may have various comorbid illnesses, which necessitates the prescription of multiple drugs. Polypharmacy can raise the risk of adverse drug events, drug interactions, and medication non-adherence, even though using numerous medications is not always inappropriate. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) with comorbidity in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 T2DM patients with comorbidity in Northwest Ethiopia from April 1 to June 30, 2023. A consecutive sampling technique was used to enroll study participants. Data were entered using EpiData version 4.6.0 and analyzed with SPSS version 26. Polypharmacy was determined by reviewing the number and type of medications based on relevant evidence. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with polypharmacy. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of polypharmacy was 59.1%. Duration of illness (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.07) hypoglycemia (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.45, 5.21) and comorbidity of four, five or more (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.15), (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.47, 7.09) were significantly associated with polypharmacy. Conclusion and recommendation In this study, more than half of the participants were found to be on polypharmacy. Patients with longer duration of illness, hypoglycemia and multiple comorbidities need routine follow-up to reduce the rate of polypharmacy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-02011-1Diabetes mellitusPolypharmacyComorbidityCross-sectionalNorthwest Ethiopia
spellingShingle Fasil Bayafers Tamene
Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke
Akalu Fetene Desalew
Getachew Yitayew Tarekegn
Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie
Selamawit Mengstu Tafere
Mekdes Kiflu
Tilaye Arega Moges
Fisseha Nigussie Dagnew
Samuel Agegnew Wondm
Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia
BMC Endocrine Disorders
Diabetes mellitus
Polypharmacy
Comorbidity
Cross-sectional
Northwest Ethiopia
title Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia
title_full Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia
title_fullStr Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia
title_short Polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia
title_sort polypharmacy and associated factors among patients with type two diabetes mellitus with comorbidity a multicenter cross sectional study in northwest ethiopia
topic Diabetes mellitus
Polypharmacy
Comorbidity
Cross-sectional
Northwest Ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-02011-1
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