AI Chatbot Shows Promise in Polypharmacy Management: Study Published in Journal of Medical Systems

Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of five or more medications, is a common issue among older adults that can lead to adverse drug interactions. Deprescribing unnecessary medications can help combat this risk, but the decision-making process can be complex and time-consuming for healthcare providers. As the need for effective polypharmacy management tools grows, researchers from Mass General Brigham MESH Incubator have found that ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, shows promise in managing polypharmacy and deprescription.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Medical Systems, researchers provided ChatGPT with different clinical scenarios involving elderly patients with varying medical histories and degrees of impairment. They found that ChatGPT consistently recommended deprescribing medications in patients without a history of cardiovascular disease, but was more cautious when CVD was present. The chatbot also tended to prioritize deprescribing pain medications over other drug types.

With over 40% of older adults meeting the criteria for polypharmacy, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT could help alleviate the burden on primary care providers who are tasked with overseeing medication management. Senior corresponding author Marc Succi noted that while caution should be taken to ensure the accuracy of AI models, these tools have the potential to significantly enhance the care of aging patients.

Lead author Arya Rao, a Harvard Medical student and MESH researcher, emphasized the importance of continuing to refine AI-based tools to account for the complexities of medical decision-making. The findings of this study suggest that AI tools can play a crucial role in ensuring safe medication practices for older adults.

As the healthcare industry continues to explore the use of AI in medicine management, research like this one highlights the potential for technology to support and enhance clinical decision-making processes. The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT could revolutionize polypharmacy management and improve patient outcomes in the aging population.