Pharmacogenomic approach to decision-making in polypharmacy
Keywords:
polypharmacy, harmful drug–drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, pharmacogenomic approachAbstract
Polypharmacy is an increasingly prevalent iatrogenic condition driven both by medical necessity and by external pressure from the pharmaceutical industry and/or patients. Although its primary aim is to improve patients’ quality of life and life expectancy, unnecessary or inappropriate medication use may lead to significant adverse outcomes. Patients subjected to polypharmacy are at a substantially increased risk of adverse drug reactions and harmful drug–drug interactions, which may result in hospitalization, prolonged hospital stay, and increased morbidity and mortality. These adverse outcomes impose a considerable economic burden on both patients and healthcare institutions, contributing to the inefficient use of already limited healthcare resources. Therefore, there is a clear need to identify effective solutions. The present review of the literature provides evidence that pharmacogenomic testing may reduce both the risks associated with polypharmacy and some of the related healthcare costs. Nevertheless, it remains underutilized in routine clinical practice. Pharmacogenomic testing represents a logical and evidence-based approach to the management of polypharmacy, with the potential to reduce both its economic burden and its associated adverse effects.
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