Prevalence and Predictors of Polypharmacy in Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES Data, 2011–2018

Joshua Tess Green MD¹, Jinadu Kehinde MBBS², Andrew Ronald Martey MD³, Chinasa Okeke-Chikelu MD⁴, Opemipo Adetifa MD⁵

Abstract

Background: Polypharmacy is increasingly recognized as a major public health challenge, particularly among adults living with multiple chronic conditions. Understanding its prevalence and predictors is critical for guiding safe prescribing and improving outcomes in this population. Objective: To examine the prevalence and predictors of polypharmacy among U.S. adults with multimorbidity using nationally representative data. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from four cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011–2018. Adults aged ≥20 years with at least two chronic conditions were included. Polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent use of five or more prescription medications. Survey-weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical predictors. Results: The unweighted sample included 19,383 adults, representing a weighted population of 194,457,154. The prevalence of polypharmacy was high, with older adults, those with higher body mass index, lower income, and health insurance coverage significantly more likely to report polypharmacy. Non-Hispanic White and Black adults had higher odds compared with Mexican American adults, while higher education was protective. Conclusion: Polypharmacy is common among multimorbid US adults and strongly shaped by demographic and socioeconomic factors. Tailored interventions are needed to balance therapeutic benefits with risks of excessive medication use.

Keywords

polypharmacy; multimorbidity; NHANES; socioeconomic factors; predictors; United States.

Cite This Article

Green, J. T., Kehinde, J., Martey, A. R., Okeke-Chikelu, C., & Adetifa, O. (2025). Prevalence and Predictors of Polypharmacy in Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES Data, 2011–2018. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 6| Issue 5: Sep – Oct 2025, Pages 847-853 URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Volume6-Issue5-Sep-Oct-No.939-847-853.pdf

Volume 6 | Issue 5: Sep – Oct 2025