Medication-related quality of life (MRQoL) in ambulatory older adults with multi-morbidity and polypharmacy

PURPOSE: To assess medication-related quality-of-life (MRQoL) in multi-morbid older adults with polypharmacy and correlations with medications, frailty and health-related QoL. METHODS: With a cross sectional study of multi-morbid geriatric medicine outpatients, we assessed MRQoL (MRQol-LSv1), frailty status, potentially inappropriate medications, Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), health-related-QoL (Short-Form 12, SF12) and medication burden (Living with Medicines Questionnaire, LMQv2). RESULTS: One-in-four (n = 59) of 234 outpatient attendees met inclusion criteria. Almost half (n = 106, 45%) were excluded due to cognition (MMSE < 26). Included participants (n = 27, mean age 80.2 years) experienced a median of 11 (IQR 9–13.5) co-morbidities and were prescribed a median of 10 (IQR 8–12.25) medications. Overall, MRQoL-LS.v.1 scores were low, suggesting good medication-related quality of life (median MRQoL-LS.v.1 score of 14, IQR 14–22). Correlations between MRQoL, number of daily medications, co-morbidity burden, LMQv2 score, SF12 scores and number of PIMs were non-significant. CONCLUSION: MRQoL-LSv.1 is unsuitable for most patients attending geriatric ambulatory services.