Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing in people with type 2 diabetes: An analysis of the Scottish Diabetes Research Network national diabetes cohort
Authors' conclusion
The degree of polypharmacy highlights the need for regular formal medication reviews in this population.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals aged ≥40 years with T2D in Scotland, 2012–2022, Scottish Care Information - Diabetes database; potentially inappropriate medications (2023 Beers criteria) assessed in people aged over 65 years
- Participants
- 387,338 individuals
- Outcome
- Number of medications dispensed per person
Methodological detailsnationwide, Poisson mixed-effects model with individual-level random intercepts
- Nationwide
- Poisson mixed-effects model with individual-level random intercepts
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Median number of medications dispensed per person
- 9 (IQR 5-13)
- Adjusted medication count, age 80+ vs 40-59: RR
- 1.06 (1.06-1.06) (95% CI)
- Adjusted medication count, women: RR
- 1.14 (1.13-1.14) (95% CI)
- Adjusted medication count, most deprived vs most affluent quintile: RR
- 1.24 (1.23-1.24) (95% CI)
- Adjusted medication count, 4+ vs 0 comorbidities: RR
- 1.12 (1.12-1.13) (95% CI)
- Adjusted medication count, high frailty risk: RR
- 1.00 (1.00-1.00) (95% CI)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Potentially inappropriate medications (people over 65)
- Median number of potentially inappropriate medications dispensed
- 2 (IQR 1-3)
- Association with comorbidity
- 1.24 (1.23-1.25)
- Association with high frailty risk
- 1.24 (1.23-1.25)
Original publication
Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing in people with type 2 diabetes: An analysis of the Scottish Diabetes Research Network national diabetes cohort. Diabet Med. Published 28 November 2025. doi:10.
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