Prevalence of prescription and non-prescription polypharmacy by frailty and sex among middle-aged and older Canadians

Estimates of polypharmacy (the concurrent use of five-or-more medications) have primarily been derived from prescription claims. Less is known about the use of non-prescription medications (alone or in combination with prescription medications) across the frailty spectrum or by sex. This study estimates the prevalence of polypharmacy (total, prescription, non-prescription, and concurrent prescription/non-prescription) overall, and by frailty, sex, and broad age groups.