Polifarmacia y fragilidad en al anciano en el contexto hospitalario.

Autores/as

Palabras clave:

Polifarmacia, Fragilidad, Anciano Frágil, Interacciones Farmacológicas, Efectos Adversos, Hospitalización.

Resumen

Introducción: La polifarmacia y la fragilidad son condiciones prevalentes y altamente interrelacionadas en los adultos mayores hospitalizados. Su concurrencia crea un escenario de elevada vulnerabilidad para la aparición de interacciones medicamentosas y eventos adversos, lo que comparte la seguridad del paciente y la efectividad del tratamiento.

Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia científica sobre la sinergia negativa entre polifarmacia y fragilidad en el entorno hospitalario, con énfasis en los mecanismos fisiopatológicos, el riesgo de interacciones, y las estrategias para su mitigación.

Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using databases such as PubMed/Medline, SciELO, and the Cochrane Library, using the MeSH terms "Polypharmacy," "Frailty," "Drug Interactions," "Adverse Drug Events," "Aged," and "Hospitalization." Articles in Spanish and English, preferably published within the last 5 years, were selected.

Resultados: La fragilidad, caracterizada por una pérdida de reserva fisiológica, altera la farmacocinética y farmacodinámica de los medicamentos. La polifarmacia (>5 fármacos) es un factor de riesgo independiente para la fragilidad y viceversa. Esta dupla aumenta exponencialmente el riesgo de interacciones fármaco-fármaco y fármaco-enfermedad, causa directa y evitable de caídas, delirium, deterioro funcional y hospitalizaciones prolongadas. La prescripción inapropiada es un hallazgo común en este grupo.

Conclusiones: La intersección entre polifarmacia y fragilidad constituye un "síndrome geriátrico iatrogénico" de alto riesgo en el hospital. Es imperativo implementar estrategias proactivas como la revisión sistemática de la medicación, la aplicación de criterios y el enfoque interdisciplinario con farmacéuticos clínicos y equipos de geriatría para optimizar la prescripción y mejorar los resultados en esta población vulnerable.

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Biografía del autor/a

Yuniel Abreu Hernández, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital General Camilo Cienfuegos. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Sancti-Spíritus. Cuba.

Especialista de Segundo Grado en Medicina General Integral y Medicina Interna. Máster en Sexología Clínica Comunitaria. Profesor Auxiliar. Investigador Agregado. 

Daimara Barrera León, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital Camilo Cienfuegos. Servicio de Geriatría. Sancti-Spíritus. Cuba

Especialista de Primer Grado en Geriatría y Gerontología. Profesor Asistente. 

Jorge Luis Lorente Montiel, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Sancti-Spíritus, Cuba.

Estudiante de 3er año de la Carrera de Medicina. 

Citas

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Publicado

2025-10-20

Cómo citar

1.
Abreu Hernández Y, Barrera León D, Lorente Montiel JL. Polifarmacia y fragilidad en al anciano en el contexto hospitalario. GeroInfo [Internet]. 20 de octubre de 2025 [citado 4 de noviembre de 2025];20:e336. Disponible en: https://revgeroinfo.sld.cu/index.php/gerf/article/view/336

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