Associations of Polypharmacy and Anticholinergic Burden With Inflammation Among US Older Adults: A…

Cross-sectionalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association· Jul 2026

Associations of Polypharmacy and Anticholinergic Burden With Inflammation Among US Older Adults: A Population-Based Study.

Chun Chen, Yanping Yang, Guixiang Yang … Kai Wei

GeriatricsCross-sectionalClinical practiceQ1IF 2.9

Hyperpolypharmacy is associated with about 40% higher c-reactive protein levels in older adults.

Associations of Polypharmacy and Anticholinergic Burden With Inflammation Among US Older Adults: A Population-Based Study.

Chun Chen … Kai Wei

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · Jul 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Purpose

Polypharmacy and anticholinergic burden (anticholinergic burden) are highly prevalent among older adults and have been linked to adverse health outcomes.

Methods

Data were obtained from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2020).

n = 11,647 adults

Results

Older adults on many medications had higher blood levels of an inflammation marker.

40% high

Hyperpolypharmacy

16% high

Anticholinergic burden

44% high

Anticholinergic burden

More results

Associations with high-sensitivity c-reactive protein were observed primarily for the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale (P = .004), whereas associations with fibrinogen were most evident for the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (P = .030).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Among US older adults, anticholinergic burden was consistently associated with elevated systemic inflammation, particularly in the context of polypharmacy.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings underscore the importance of considering anticholinergic properties in geriatric pharmacotherapy.

Associations of Polypharmacy and Anticholinergic Burden With Inflammation Among US Older Adults: A Population-Based Study.

Associations of Polypharmacy and Anticholinergic Burden With Inflammation Among US Older Adults: A Population-Based Study.

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