The association between polypharmacy and adverse health consequences in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients; a systematic review and meta-analysis

To summarize the existing literature concerning the association between polypharmacy and adverse health consequences in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We searched four literature databases (PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect and Web of Science) through April 2019. We included all studies that addressed the association between polypharmacy and all-cause of mortality, glycemic control, macrovacular complications, hospitalization, potentially inappropriate medicines, drug-drug interactions and fall. A statistical program OpenMeta [Analyst] was used. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random effects model. I2 statistics was performed to assess heterogeneity. Out of sixteen studies, three studies were used for meta-analysis. A statistically significant association was found between polypharmacy and all-cause mortality (OR = 1.622, 95% CI (1.606–1.637) P