OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence and factors affecting polypharmacy amongelderly diabetic patients in Greece.

METHODS: A prospective multi-center cross-sectional study was carried out in the regions of Attica and Western Greece. Data were collected via personal interviews at the outpatients’ and specialized diabetes units of the public, private and university hospitals. A random sample of 702 patients was selected out of 1.134 patients followed up from March to May 2016. A questionnaire was prepared based on the EU SIMPATHY experience including questions on patients’ characteristics, medication use and adherence, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and self-assessment of health status. The criterion for polypharmacy was defined as the concomitant use of 5 or more medications.Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the impact of studied independent variables on polypharmacy. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS-21.

RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Change management practices and integrated healthcare networks are needed to be introduced in Greece in order to support health providers to medication decision making as well as to educate elderly about the consequences of polypharmacy.