The relationship between polypharmacy and quality of life in kidney transplant patients

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of polypharmacy, the pill burden of patients and the effects of polypharmacy on quality of life in kidney transplant patients followed up in our faculty. Patients and Methods: Patients who applied to Ondokuzmayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Transplant Outpatient Clinic between September 2023 and November 2023 and met the study conditions were included. The KDQOL-SF questionnaire was administered to patients who met the study conditions by face-to-face interview. Patients taking 6 or more medications were included in polypharmacy group. Patients' laboratory data were obtained from the hospital information system. Results: Of the 128 patients who participated in the study, 77 were male and 51 were female. Polypharmacy was detected in 74 patients. The mean age of the participants was 51.8 ± 11.5 years in the polypharmacy group and 42.4 ± 12.5 years in the non- polypharmacy group. In renal transplant patients, quality of life was statistically significantly lower in the polypharmacy group. There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of polypharmacy and age, presence of comorbidity, presence of multimorbidity, marital status and etiology of CKD. The group with polypharmacy had statistically significantly lower scores in all sub-parameters of the KDQOL-SF. Discussion and Conclusion: In our study, it was concluded that the presence of polypharmacy negatively affects the quality of life in kidney transplant patients. Polypharmacy was found to be associated with age, comorbidity and multimorbidity. The importance of avoiding polypharmacy and assessing quality of life to improve it in renal transplant patients are emphasized.