Abstract
Objective: To examine the association between medication regimen complexity and quality of life in older adults, with a focus on age, functional status, and comorbidity burden.
Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive–analytical investigation.
Setting: Outpatient clinic at Asadabadi Polyclinic, Tabriz, Northwest Iran.
Participants: A total of 110 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 or above, recruited through convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria were being at least 60 years old, using at least one prescribed medication, being able to communicate and complete questionnaires, and willing to participate. Exclusion criteria comprised diagnosed dementia, severe hearing or speech impairments, inability to manage medications independently, medication administration by caregivers, and not using any medication.
Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was quality of life, assessed using the Older People’s Quality of Life questionnaire (OPQOL-35). The primary exposure, medication regimen complexity, was evaluated with the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI). Additionally, comorbidity burden was measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and functional status was assessed with the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) index.
Results: Of the participants, 53 were women and 57 were men. Most reported good or average quality of life. A significant inverse association was observed between medication regimen complexity and quality of life. In the adjusted linear regression model, each one-unit increase in the MRCI score was associated with a 0.80-unit decrease in the quality-of-life score (p < 0.001). Increasing age was also independently associated with lower quality of life, with a 0.57-unit reduction per additional year of age (p = 0.002). Other variables, including gender, comorbidity burden, functional status, educational level, employment status, and marital status, were not significant predictors. The model explained 54.2% of the variance in quality-of-life scores.
Conclusion: Medication regimen complexity and age were independently associated with quality of life in older adults. These findings emphasize the importance of patient-centered medication management strategies that simplify regimens to improve quality of life in this population.