Structured medication reviews for patients with polypharmacy in primary care: a cross-sectional study in North West London, UK
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives
To identify the number and characteristics of patients with polypharmacy receiving structured medication reviews (SMRs) and medication reviews in primary care in 2022, and to evaluate whether the provision of these services is equitable across different demographic and socio-economic groups.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
Primary care networks in North West London, UK.
Participants
Adults registered with a general practitioner (GP) and regularly prescribed at least five medicines or more.
Main outcome measures
Receipt of at least one SMR and any kind of medication review during the study period (2022).
Results
Among 515,042 adults regularly prescribed with medication, 167,482 were regularly prescribed at least five medicines, defined as polypharmacy. 53.3% (89,220) of these patients received at least one kind of medication review and 17.2% (11,954) of them received SMRs. Patients who were males, black, more affluent, and frailer, were more likely to receive medication reviews, while those who were males, less affluent, and frailer, were more likely to receive SMRs.
Conclusions
Although polypharmacy was common in North West London, only about half of eligible patients received medication reviews, and only 17.2% received SMRs. Different distributions of medication reviews and SMRs by demographic and socio-economic characteristics may indicate inequities in the provision of these services. Policy makers should consider effective ways to incentivise the equitable provision of SMRs.
To identify the number and characteristics of patients with polypharmacy receiving structured medication reviews (SMRs) and medication reviews in primary care in 2022, and to evaluate whether the provision of these services is equitable across different demographic and socio-economic groups.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
Primary care networks in North West London, UK.
Participants
Adults registered with a general practitioner (GP) and regularly prescribed at least five medicines or more.
Main outcome measures
Receipt of at least one SMR and any kind of medication review during the study period (2022).
Results
Among 515,042 adults regularly prescribed with medication, 167,482 were regularly prescribed at least five medicines, defined as polypharmacy. 53.3% (89,220) of these patients received at least one kind of medication review and 17.2% (11,954) of them received SMRs. Patients who were males, black, more affluent, and frailer, were more likely to receive medication reviews, while those who were males, less affluent, and frailer, were more likely to receive SMRs.
Conclusions
Although polypharmacy was common in North West London, only about half of eligible patients received medication reviews, and only 17.2% received SMRs. Different distributions of medication reviews and SMRs by demographic and socio-economic characteristics may indicate inequities in the provision of these services. Policy makers should consider effective ways to incentivise the equitable provision of SMRs.
Date Issued
2025-04-01
Date Acceptance
2025-02-15
Citation
JRSM Open, 2025, 16 (4)
ISSN
2054-2704
Publisher
SAGE Publishing
Journal / Book Title
JRSM Open
Volume
16
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
License URL
Identifier
10.1177/20542704251325056
Subjects
Cross-sectional study patients
quantitative research
medical error/patient safety
medical management
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
20542704251325056
Date Publish Online
2025-04-01