The Analysis of Noncommunicable Diseases in Geriatrics with a Focus on Polypharmacy and Its Cost Burden

Abstract

The chapter analyzes the various Noncommunicable Diseases in geriatrics with an emphasis on Polypharmacy and its Cost Burden. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have globally shown increasing impact on health status in populations with disproportionately higher rates in developing countries. NCDs are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and a serious public health threat to developing countries. These NCDs have slow progress and are of long duration and thus significantly contributing to treatment for a long time leading to higher expenses. It can be difficult for doctors to manage NCDs in elderly patients since they frequently have many co-morbid illnesses, which require multiple pharmacological prescriptions to address each one. Multiple drug usage has negative effects, especially in older people, including high costs, a poor quality of life, and even death. The Risk factors associated with NCDs are tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and poor physical activity. Thus, the NCDs burden imparts a serious effect on development, both socially and economically across the world. Different strategies have been established to overcome NCDs and multiple drug use (polypharmacy) in geriatric. By offering individualized patient management and care that is optimized, the clinical pharmacist is skilled at assisting the prescriber with the management of NCDs in a geriatric patient with co-morbidity.