Background: Polypharmacy in the elderly can lead to falls, memory impairment, decreased appetite, and constipation, which are commonly observed in frail and care-dependent elderly residents. This study aimed to investigate the impact of polypharmacy in elderly care facility residents on clinical presentation and gut microbiota based on various data.
Methods: The study included 62 elderly residents (aged 87.4±7.9) who were assessed for medication usage, clinical status, and caregiving needs. Concurrently, fecal samples were collected and analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Participants were categorized into the polypharmacy group (n=30) if they were taking six or more medications habitually, and the non-polypharmacy group (n=32) if they were taking five or fewer medications.
Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of constipation, laxative use, frailty degree, or caregiving level. Regarding gut microbiota, no significant differences were observed in diversity or phylum levels between the two groups. However, at the genus level, Ruminococcaceae UCG 014, associated with enhanced intestinal barrier function, was significantly more abundant in the polypharmacy group (p=0.036), and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group showed a positive correlation with the number of medications taken (r=0.274).
Discussion: The polypharmacy group in this study showed a reduced incidence of drug-related adverse events, suggesting no apparent association with gut microbiota dysbiosis.