The consumption of two or more fall risk-increasing drugs rather than polypharmacy is associated with falls

NSAID medication mediates the causal effect of genetically predicted major depressive disorder on falls: Evidence from a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidence supports that depression including major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with an increased risk of falls. However, some studies suggest no association between MDD and falls. Therefore, the specific causal relationship whereby MDD affects the risk of falls remains elusive, and the potential mediators are unclear.

METHODS

Summary-level data for MDD and falls were collected from the Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in this study. Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses were performed to evaluate the causal associations between MDD and falls. A Two-step MR analysis was employed to analyze the mediating effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the causal association between MDD and the risk of falls.

RESULTS

Using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, genetically predicted MDD was associated with an increased risk of falls (β = 0.15, SE = 0.034; P = 1.61E-5). MVMR and two-step MR analyses demonstrated that MDD was a causal determinant of increased falls independent of body mass index (BMI), smoking initiation, and alcohol consumption and that this causal relationship was mediated by NSAID medication.

LIMITATIONS

Extracted GWAS summary statistics are from European ancestry. Stratified analyses by sex and age were not included in our study. Therefore, it is unclear whether the results are the same for other ethnic groups, genders, and ages.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that MDD is independently associated with an increased risk of falls, in which NSAIDs mediate the association. This study suggests that avoiding the use of NSAIDs may reduce the risk of falls in patients diagnosed with MDD.

Effect of number of medications on the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults: A 3-year follow-up of the SONIC study

AIM

This study examined the association between the number of prescribed medications and falls among community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

We conducted a geriatric comprehensive health-checkup on community-dwelling adults aged 69-91 years who participated in the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, and Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians study. The final analysis of this study included 1,076 participants with complete data. The participants were divided into four groups based on the number of medications at baseline: 0, 1, 2-4, and ≥5. At the 3-year follow-up, the participants were asked whether they had fallen in the past year. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the number of medications taken and falls after adjusting for confounding factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of falls were 10.5%, 18.2%, 18.3%, and 19.8% in the no-medication, one-medication, comedication, and polypharmacy groups, respectively. In the one-medication prescription group, 59% of prescriptions were for fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRID). Multivariable analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of falls in the one-medication group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-3.54), co-medication (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.09-3.29), and polypharmacy groups (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.09-3.45) than in the no-medication group.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that polypharmacy, as well as just taking one medication, can affect the occurrence of falls. This suggests that in addition to the number of medications and polypharmacy, the type of medication, such as FRID, affects the risk of falls. Therefore, pharmacotherapy should consider the risk of falls in older adults when prescribing medications. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 306-310.

The primary care NP's guide to prevention and management of falls in older adults

ABSTRACT

Falls are a growing health concern affecting older adults (defined as ages 65 years and older) that can lead to devastating consequences. NPs in primary care settings play an important role in the prevention and management of older adult falls. Methods and resources to screen for fall risk, assess risk factors, and manage falls in older adults are discussed.

Orthogeriatric co-management at a regional core hospital as a new multidisciplinary approach in Japanese hip fracture operation

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of orthogeriatric co-management of hip fractures at a regional core hospital.

METHODS

This study included patients with proximal hip fracture. Patients were divided into two groups, conventional multidisciplinary group I including patients attending the hospital between April 2015 and March 2016 and orthogeriatric group II including patients attending the hospital between April 2016 and March 2017, which were compared retrospectively. In the control group, the conventional multidisciplinary team treated patients as whole-body controls. In the intervention group, the newly recruited geriatricians performed physical examinations, laboratory tests, radioactive imaging, and physiological tests. Furthermore, they consulted ward pharmacists, rigorously conducted positive polypharmacy interventions , and evaluated the type and number of mediated drugs on admission.

RESULTS

The number of medicated drugs significantly decreased from 6.03 ± 4.3 on admission to 5.50 ± 3.59 on discharge in group II, whereas group I did not show a significant decrease. Despite the more number of hospitalized patients in group II (166 patients) than in group I (126 patients), the recovery rate from postoperative urinary retention increased significantly from 57.8% (19/30) in group I to 84.3% (32/59) in group II (p = 0.049), while the incidence of aspiration pneumonia decreased from 7.1% (9/126) in group I to 2.49% (4/166) in group II (p = 0.08). The patients received six or more prescribed drugs on admission, and the number remained constant. However, the number of medicated drugs on discharge showed a marginally significant decrease from 6.03 ± 4.3 in group I to 5.50 ± 3.59 in group II (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to the conventional multidisciplinary group, the orthogeriatric team contributed to reducing the number of multi-effect drugs and perioperative complications without negatively affecting mortality despite the increased number of patients. The in-hospital mortality rate did not change between the groups. The orthogeriatric program succeeded in preventing and treating perioperative complications.

Effect of polypharmacy and Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs (FRIDs) on falls among Brazilian older adults: The SABE cohort study

Polypharmacy, considered as the use of multiple medications, has been one of the factors associated with a higher risk of falls among older adults. However, the association of this factor regardless of the use of Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs (FRIDs) has not been extensively explored.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association of polypharmacy with falls and verify whether this association is independent of FRID use.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was conducted with a representative sample of the urban population aged 60 years and over in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2000 to 2006. The analysis of the association among polypharmacy, the use of FRIDs, and the occurrence of falls over the years was performed using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS

The association between polypharmacy and falls was significantly attenuated after the adjustment for covariates and FRIDs. Users of two or more FRIDs had higher odds of falls (OR = 1.51; CI [1.16; 1.96]).

CONCLUSION

FRID use was associated with the occurrence of falls among older adults. The number of medications must be kept to the minimum necessary, and FRIDs should be avoided in approaches to preventing falls among older adults.

The association between diuretics and falls in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Diuretic intake increases the risk of falling. However, previous studies have shown inconsistent correlations between diuretics and falls. This meta-analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between diuretic use and risk of falls in older adult individuals.

METHODS

Six databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE) were searched from their inception to November 9, 2022. The risk of bias was independently evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. A comprehensive meta-analysis was used to analyze the eligible studies.

RESULTS

Fifteen articles were analyzed. Studies have shown that diuretics can increase the risk of falls in older adult individuals. The probability of falls in older adult individuals who used diuretics was 1.185 times higher than in those who did not take diuretics.

CONCLUSION

Diuretics were significantly associated with an increased risk of falls.

Association of medication use with falls and mortality among long-term care residents: a longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

Falls in long-term care are common. The aim of our study was to explore how medication use is associated with incidence of falls, related consequences, and all-cause mortality among long-term care residents.

METHODS

Five hundred thirty two long-term care residents aged 65 years or older participated in this longitudinal cohort study in 2018-2021. Data on medication use were retrieved from medical records. Polypharmacy was defined as use of 5-10 medications and excessive polypharmacy as use of > 10 medications. The numbers of falls, injuries, fractures, and hospitalizations were collected from medical records over 12 months following baseline assessment. Participants were followed for three years for mortality. All analysis were adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Clinical dementia rating, and mobility.

RESULTS

A total of 606 falls occurred during the follow-up. Falls increased significantly with the number of medications used. Fall rate was 0.84/person-years (pyrs) (95% CI 0.56 to 1.13) for the non-polypharmacy group, 1.13/pyrs (95% CI 1.01 to 1.26) for the polypharmacy group, and 1.84/pyrs (95% CI 1.60 to 2.09) for the excessive polypharmacy group. Incidence rate ratio for falls was 1.73 (95% CI 1.44 to 2.10) for opioids, 1.48 (95% CI 1.23 to 1.78) for anticholinergic medication, 0.93 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.25) for psychotropics, and 0.91 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.08) for Alzheimer medication. The three-year follow-up showed significant differences in mortality between the groups, the lowest survival rate (25%) being in the excessive polypharmacy group.

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy, opioid and anticholinergic medication use predicted incidence of falls in long-term care. The use of more than 10 medications predicted all-cause mortality. Special attention should be paid to both number and type of medications when prescribing in long-term care.

Pharmacist comprehensive review of fall-risk-increasing drugs and polypharmacy in elderly Spanish community patients using RStudio®

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify and analyze adults aged ≥65 years living in the Canary Islands, Spain, who are prescribed medications that increase the risk of falls and are polymedicated. To do so we have made use of the electronic prescription and the RStudio®.

Method

For the detection of Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs (FRIDs), outpatient electronic prescription dispensing data were used in two pharmacies. A total of 118,890 dispensations grouped into 15,601 treatment plans for 2,312 patients were analyzed. The FRIDs analyzed were antipsychotics (APSI), benzodiazepines (BZPN), antidepressants (DEPR), opioids (OPIO) and Z-hypnotics (ZHIP). For the development of the algorithms for the construction of tables and data screening, the statistical programming language RStudio® was used.

Results

Of the total number of patients and prescriptions analyzed, 46.6% were polymedicated and 44.3% had prescribed an FRID. 28.7% of the patients presented both factors, had a dispensation from an FRID and were polymedicated. Of the 14,278 dispensations with FRID, 49% had a benzodiazepine, 22.7% opioids, 18% antidepressants, 5.6% hypnotics, and finally 4.4% antipsychotics. At least 32% of the patients had been dispensed a benzodiazepine together with another FRID and 23% an opioid together with another FRID.

Conclusions

The method of analysis developed and applied in RStudio® allows to detect and determine in a simple and fast way polymedicated patients, as well as the number and therapeutic class of drugs in their treatment plan and identify prescriptions that can increase the risk of falls. Our results show a high number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines and opioids.

Feasibility of the Implementation of LESS-CHRON in Clinical Practice: A Pilot Intervention Study in Older Patients With Multimorbidity

Background and Objectives

Potentially inappropriate medication refers to the prescription of drugs whose risks outweigh the benefits. There are different pharmacotherapeutic optimization strategies to detect and avoid potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), namely deprescription. The List of Evidence-Based Deprescribing for Chronic Patients (LESS-CHRON) criteria were designed as a tool to systematize the deprescribing process. LESS-CHRON has established itself as one of the most suitable to be applied in older (≥65 years) multimorbid patients. However, it has not been applied to these patients, to measure the impact on their treatment. For this reason, a pilot study was conducted to analyze the feasibility of implementing this tool in a care pathway.

Research Design and Methods

A pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted. Older outpatients with multimorbidity from the Internal Medicine Unit of a benchmark Hospital were included. The main variable was feasibility in clinical practice, understood as the likelihood that the deprescribing intervention recommended by the pharmacist would be applied to the patient. Success rate, therapeutic, and anticholinergic burden, and other variables related to health care utilization were analyzed.

Results

A total of 95 deprescribing reports were prepared. Forty-three were evaluated by the physician who assessed the recommendations made by pharmacists. This translates into an implementation feasibility of 45.3%. The application of LESS-CHRON identified 92 PIMs. The acceptance rate was 76.7% and after 3 months 82.7% of the stopped drugs remained deprescribed. A reduction in anticholinergic burden and enhanced adherence was achieved. However, no improvement was found in clinical or health care utilization variables.

Discussion and Implications

The implementation of the tool in a care pathway is feasible. The intervention has achieved great acceptance and deprescribing has been successful in a not insignificant percentage. Future studies with a larger sample size are necessary to obtain more robust results in clinical and health care utilization variables.

Medication Prescribed Within One Year Preceding Fall-Related Injuries in Ontario Older Adults

Background

Serious injuries secondary to falls are becoming more prevalent due to the worldwide ageing of societies. Several medication classes have been associated with falls and fall-related injuries. The purpose of this study was to describe medication classes and the number of medication classes prescribed to older adults prior to the fall-related injury.

Methods

This population-based descriptive study used secondary administrative health-care data in Ontario, Canada for 2010-2014. Descriptive statistics were reported for Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical 4^th level medication classes. Frequency of medications prescribed to older adults was calculated on different sex, age groups, types of medications, and injures.

Results

Over five years (2010-2014), 288,251 older adults (63.2% females) were admitted to an emergency department for a fall-related injury (40.0% fractures, 12.1% brain injury). In the year before the injury, 48.5% were prescribed statins, 27.2% antidepressants, 25.0% opioids, and 16.6% anxiolytics. Females were prescribed more diuretics, antidepressants, and anxiolytics than males; and people aged 85 years and older had a higher percentage of diuretics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. There were 36.4% of older adults prescribed 5-9 different medication classes and 41.2% were prescribed 10 or more medication classes.

Discussion

Older adults experiencing fall-related injuries were prescribed more opioids, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants than previously reported for the general population of older adults in Ontario. Higher percentage of females and more 85+ older adults were prescribed with psychotropic drugs, and they were also found to be at higher risk of fall-related injuries. Further associations between medications and fall-related injuries need to be explored in well-defined cohort studies.

Polypharmacy Is Associated With Falls in Women With and Without HIV

BACKGROUND

Aging in people with HIV is associated with increased risk of developing synergistic conditions such as neurocognitive impairment, polypharmacy, and falls. We assessed associations between polypharmacy (use of 5 or more non-ART medications), use of neurocognitive adverse effects (NCAE) medications, and odds of falls in women with HIV (WWH) and without HIV (HIV-).

METHODS

Self-reported falls and medication use data were contributed semiannually by 1872 (1315 WWH and 557 HIV-) Women's Interagency HIV Study participants between 2014 and 2016. Polypharmacy and NCAE medication use were evaluated separately and jointly in multivariable models to assess their independent contributions to single and multiple falls risk.

RESULTS

The proportion of women who reported any fall was similar by HIV status (19%). WWH reported both greater polypharmacy (51% vs. 41%; P < 0.001) and NCAE medication use (44% vs. 37%; P = 0.01) than HIV- women. Polypharmacy conferred elevated odds of single fall [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.67, 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.06; P < 0.001] and multiple falls (aOR 2.31, 95% CI: 1.83 to 2.93; P < 0.001); the results for NCAE medications and falls were similar. Both polypharmacy and number of NCAE medications remained strongly and independently associated with falls in multivariable models adjusted for HIV serostatus, study site, sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and substance use.

CONCLUSIONS

Polypharmacy and NCAE medication use were greater among WWH compared with HIV-, and both were independently and incrementally related to falls. Deprescribing and avoidance of medications with NCAEs may be an important consideration for reducing fall risk among WWH and sociodemographically similar women without HIV.

Anticholinergics and falls in older adults

INTRODUCTION

The use of medications with anticholinergic (ACh) properties is associated with numerous adverse effects especially in older adults. Emerging evidence suggests the presence of long-term effects with ACh use.

AREAS COVERED

Our article presents an overview of ACh effects and falls in older individuals including examination of emerging evidence on ACh use and cumulative exposure on short-term and long-term falls risk. The databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for articles published from January 2002 to December 2021.

EXPERT OPINION

Anticholinergic side effects include muscle weakness, blurred vision, and mental confusion which are likely to lead to increased falls risk. Many commonly used medications such as beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and antihistamines are now known to have mild ACh properties. With polypharmacy now considered unavoidable in older patients, the cumulative effects of the use of multiple drugs with mild ACh properties may also lead to increased falls risk. The relationship between ACh drugs and falls may also be irreversible as ACh effects may extend beyond the period of drug use, due to cognitive and physical deconditioning following the initial exposure to ACh drugs. Future long-term studies with accurate quantification of cumulative ACh exposure and measurement of actual falls outcomes are urgently required.

An evaluation of injurious falls and Fall-Risk-Increasing-Drug (FRID) prescribing in ambulatory care in older adults

Background

Falls are a major public health problem affecting millions of older adults each year. Little is known about FRID prescribing behaviors after injurious falls occur. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether an injurious fall is associated with being prescribed a new FRID.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (2016). We included visits from patients age ≥ 65 years and classified visits based on presence of an injurious fall. The outcome of interest was prescription of new FRID between those with and without an injurious fall. Multivariable logistic regression weighted for sampling and adjusted for demographics, health history and other medications was used. Age and Alzheimer’s disease were examined as potential effect measure modifiers. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Bayes factor upper bounds were also reported to quantify whether the data were better predicted by the null hypothesis or the alternative hypothesis.

Results

The sample included 239,016,482 ambulatory care visits. 5,095,734 (2.1%) of the visits were related to an injurious fall. An injurious fall was associated with a non-statistically significant increase in odds of at least one new FRID prescription: adjusted OR = 1.6 (95% CI 0.6, 4.0). However, there was non-statistically significant evidence that the association depended on patient age, with OR = 2.6 (95% CI 0.9, 7.4) for ages 65–74 versus OR = 0.4 (95% CI 0.1, 1.6) for ages ≥ 75. In addition to age, Alzheimer’s disease was also identified as a statistically significant effect measure modifier, but stratum specific estimates were not determined due to small sample sizes.

Conclusions

Ambulatory care visits involving an injurious fall showed a non-statistically significant increase in odds of generating a new FRID prescription, but this association may depend on age.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-02877-z.

Survival of Frail Elderly with Delirium

This study aims to determine when frailty increases the risks of delirium mortality. Hospital patients falling into the elderly frail or pre-frail category were recruited, some without delirium, some with delirium at admission, and some who developed delirium during admission. We screened for frailty, cognitive status, and co-morbidities whenever possible and extracted drug information and mortality data from electronic health records. Kaplan–Meier estimates of survival probability functions were computed at four times, comparing delirium versus non delirium patients. Differences in survival were assessed by a log-rank test. Independent Cox’s regression was carried out to identify significant hazard risks (HR) at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Delirium predicted mortality (log-rank test, p < 0.0001) at all four censoring points. Variables with significant HRs were frailty indicators, comorbidities, polypharmacy, and the use of specific drugs. For the delirium cohort, variables with the most significant 2-year hazard risks (HR(95%CI)) were: male gender (0.43 20 (0.26,0.69)), weight loss (0.45 (0.26,0.74)), sit and stand up test (0.67 (0.49,0.92)), readmission within 30 days of discharge (0.50 (0.30,0.80)), cerebrovascular disease (0.45 (0.27,0.76)), head trauma (0.54 22 (0.29,0.98)), number of prescribed drugs (1.10 (1.03,1.18)), and the use of diuretics (0.57 (0.34,0.96)). These results suggest that polypharmacy and the use of diuretics increase mortality in frail elderly patients with delirium.

Change in Medication-Associated Fall Risk Among Older Adults After Admission for Fall-Related Trauma

BACKGROUND

As the population ages, it is predicted that approximately 40% of all patients who experience fall-related trauma will be 65 years of age and older. Most injuries in older adults are caused by falls that are the result of multiple contributing factors including home hazards, comorbidities, frailty, and medications. A variety of medications have been associated with falls, specifically those with sedating and anticholinergic effects. The drug burden index can be used to quantify sedating and anticholinergic drug burden, with higher scores being associated with reduced psychomotor function.

OBJECTIVE

Assess the medication-associated fall risk on admission and discharge for older patients admitted to a trauma nurse practitioner service.

METHODS

Retrospective, observational study of patients managed by trauma nurse practitioners at a Level 1 trauma center between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019. Patients were included if they were at least 65 years of age, the primary diagnosis for the admission was fall-related trauma, and length of stay was at least 7 days.

RESULTS

A total of 172 patients were included in the study. The drug burden index was significantly higher at discharge than admission (M = 1.4, SD = 0.9 vs. M = 1.9, SD = 0.9) as was the total number of medications (M = 11.0, SD = 5.2 vs. M = 15.1, SD = 5.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Medication-related fall risk was increased during admission due to fall-related trauma. Patients were discharged with a higher sedating and anticholinergic burden than on admission, which increases risk for future falls.

Association Between Sleep Quality and Falls: A Nationwide Population-Based Study from South Korea

Purpose

There are few large studies evaluating the association between sleep quality and the risk of falls. We aimed to determine the independent effect of poor sleep quality on an increased risk of falls using a large-sample dataset.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study using population-based data from the 2018 Korean Community Health Survey on 201,700 participants. Sociodemographic, mental health-related, and physical health-related variables as well as sleep quality evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were compared between 2499 fallers who have experienced at least one fall during the past 12 months and 199,201 non-fallers. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify sleep quality variables significantly associated with an increased risk of falls.

Results

Fallers had poorer sleep quality (PSQI score >5) and higher scores for global PSQI and individual PSQI components than did non-fallers (all p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders including socioeconomic, physical health-related, and mental health-related variables showed that an increased risk of falls was associated with poor sleep quality (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19–1.42). Subgroup analyses by age revealed that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with an increased risk of falls in all three adult age groups. Multivariable logistic regression using the seven PSQI components revealed that an increased risk of falls was associated with short sleep duration (OR 1.14, CI 1.09–1.20), increased sleep disturbances (OR 1.30, CI 1.16–1.46), and increased daytime dysfunctions (OR 1.21, CI 1.08–1.13).

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality caused by short sleep duration may be a principal risk factor of falls in adult populations. Increased sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunctions may also contribute to an increased risk of falls. Our results have clinical and public health perspectives that increasing sleep duration and reducing daytime dysfunctions and sleep disturbances could mitigate unintentional falls.

Effect of antipsychotic drugs and orthostatic hypotension on the risk of falling in schizophrenic patients

Background: Background: Management of schizophrenia using psychopharmaceuticals requires a long-term treatment. The use of antipsychotic drugs can cause the occurrence of orthostatic hypotension, which leads to the risk of falling in patients. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the use of antipsychotic drugs and orthostatic hypotension on the risk of falling in schizophrenic patients.

Design and Methods: This study used a descriptive design with 53 respondents. Data were analyzed using the contingency coefficient correlation and Spearman Rank test methods.

Results: The results of the first study showed no positive effect between the use of antipsychotics on orthostatic hypotension in schizophrenic patients. In addition, a contingency coefficient correlation (C) of 0.199 and p-value of 0.335 (p>0.05) was obtained. The results of the second study showed that there was a significant positive effect between orthostatic hypotension on the risk of falling in schizophrenic patients with a value of r = 0.483 and a pvalue of 0.000 (p0.001).

Conclusion: It was suggested that the development of this study’s result is needed for further research in dealing with the incidence of orthostatic hypotension in order to prevent or reduce the risk of falling in schizophrenic patients.

Prevalence of Drug-Related Problems and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Malaysia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 37,249 Older Adults

Drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly include polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, nonadherence, and drug-related falls. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the prevalence of DRPs and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among the Malaysian elderly was estimated. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies published since their inception up to 24 August 2020. A random-effects model was used to generate the pooled prevalence of DRPs along with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The heterogeneity of the results was estimated using the I² statistics, and Cochran’s Q test and sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the robustness of the results. We identified 526 studies, 23 of which were included in the meta-analysis. (n = 29,342). The pooled prevalence of DRPs among Malaysian elderly was as follows: (1) polypharmacy: 49.5% [95% CI: 20.5–78.6], (2) potentially inappropriate medications: 28.9% [95% CI: 25.4–32.3], (3) nonadherence to medications: 60.6% [95% CI: 50.2–70.9], and (4) medication-related falls 39.3% [95% CI: 0.0–80.8]. Approximately one in two Malaysian elderly used CAM. The prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications among the Malaysian elderly population was high, calling for measures and evidence-based guidelines to ensure the safe medication use.

The extent of polypharmacy and use of 'fall risk increasing drugs' in the oldest old admitted to a regional New South Wales hospital

OBJECTIVE(S)

Polypharmacy is associated with significant morbidity including cognitive decline and falls. We sought to quantify the extent of polypharmacy and use of medications associated with fall risk in the very old admitted to a regional NSW hospital.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of patients aged over 80 years admitted to a regional NSW hospital from September to October 2019. Demographic data and medication usage on admission were collected. Polypharmacy was defined as regular use of five or more medications.

RESULTS

A total of 401 patients were included: mean age was 87.2 (±4.6) years and 56.9% were female. Of the participations, 82.9% experienced polypharmacy, and the mean number of medications was 8.2 (±4.2). Of the patients, 91.6% utilised medications associated with risk of falls. There was no association between age and number of preadmission regular medications.

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy is extremely common prior to acute hospitalisation for regional older individuals. This highlights the importance of medication rationalisation to reduce medication-related harm.

Association of drugs with special caution in the guidelines with falls: A case-control and case-crossover study in Japan

AIM

To determine the relationship between multiple medications and falls.

METHODS

This case-control and case-crossover study was carried out at Kudanzaka Hospital in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. A total of 325 patients who experienced their first falls when hospitalized between January 2016 and November 2018, and 1285 controls matched by sex, age and clinical departments were included in this study. Hospitalization duration and fall risk score were adjusted for in the analyses.

RESULTS

In the case-control study, multivariable logistic regression showed that increasing the intake of oral medications was not significantly associated with the incidence of falls (odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.998-1.049). In contrast, drugs prescribed with special caution in accordance with the Elderly Oral Medication Guidelines were significantly associated with falls (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.26). A similar pattern was observed in the case-crossover analysis. Among the drugs to be prescribed with special caution according to the guidelines, atypical antipsychotics, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and magnesium oxide were significantly associated with the risk of falls.

CONCLUSION

The drugs to be prescribed with special caution according to the guidelines were associated with an increased fall risk. The risk of falls in hospitalized older people due to multiple medications varies among medications. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; ••: ••-••.

Fall Risk-Increasing Drugs, Polypharmacy, and Falls Among Low-Income Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background and Objectives

Medication exposure is a potential risk factor for falls and subsequent death and functional decline among older adults. However, controversy remains on the best way to assess medication exposure and which approach best predicts falls. The objective of the current study was to examine the association between different measures of medication exposure and falls risk among community-dwelling older adults.

Research Design and Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Falls Free PA program data and a linked prescription claims data from Pennsylvania's Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly program. Participants were community-dwelling older adults living in Pennsylvania, United States. Three measures of medication exposure were assessed: (a) total number of regular medications (polypharmacy); (b) counts of potentially inappropriate medications derived from current prescription guidance tools (Fall Risk-Increasing Drugs [FRIDs], Beers Criteria); and (c) medication burden indices based on pharmacologic mechanisms (Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden, Drug Burden Index) all derived from claims data. The associations between the different medication risk measures and self-reported falls incidence were examined with univariate and multivariable negative binomial regression models to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

Results

Overall 343 older adults were included and there were 236 months with falls during 2,316 activity-adjusted person-months (10.2 falls per 100 activity-adjusted person-months). Of the 6 measures of medication risk assessed in multivariate models, only the use of 2 or more FRIDs (adjusted IRR 1.67 [95% CI: 1.04-2.68]) independently predicted falls risk. Among the 13 FRID drug classes, the only FRID class associated with an increased fall risk was antidepressants.

Discussion and Implications

The presence of multiple FRIDs in a prescription is an independent risk factor for falls, even in older adults with few medications. Further investigation is required to examine whether deprescribing focused on FRIDs effectively prevents falls among this population.

Polypharmacy is a risk factor for hospital admission due to a fall: evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Background

Falls amongst older people are common; however, around 40% of falls could be preventable. Medications are known to increase the risk of falls in older adults. The debate about reducing the number of prescribed medications remains controversial, and more evidence is needed to understand the relationship between polypharmacy and fall-related hospital admissions. We examined the effect of polypharmacy on hospitalization due to a fall, using a large nationally representative sample of older adults.

Methods

Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were used. We included 6220 participants aged 50+ with valid data collected between 2012 and 2018.The main outcome measure was hospital admission due to a fall. Polypharmacy -the number of long-term prescription drugs- was the main exposure coded as: no medications, 1–4 medications, 5–9 medications (polypharmacy) and 10+ medications (heightened polypharmacy). Competing-risk regression analysis was used (with death as a potential competing risk), adjusted for common confounders, including multi-morbidity and fall risk-increasing drugs.

Results

The prevalence of people admitted to hospital due to a fall increased according to the number of medications taken, from 1.5% of falls for people reporting no medications, to 4.7% of falls among those taking 1–4 medications, 7.9% of falls among those with polypharmacy and 14.8% among those reporting heightened polypharmacy. Fully adjusted SHRs for hospitalization due to a fall among people who reported taking 1–4 medications, polypharmacy and heightened polypharmacy were 1.79 (1.18; 2.71), 1.75 (1.04; 2.95), and 3.19 (1.61; 6.32) respectively, compared with people who were not taking medications.

Conclusions

The risk of hospitalization due to a fall increased with polypharmacy. It is suggested that prescriptions in older people should be revised on a regular basis, and that the number of medications prescribed be kept to a minimum, in order to reduce the risk of fall-related hospital admissions.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Analgesic Prescribing in Poly-Medicated Elderly Patients

BACKGROUND

Pain is common in older patients and management guidelines rarely consider the effect of multiple comorbidities and concurrent medications on analgesic selection.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to identify the prevalence and pattern of analgesic prescribing and associated factors in older patients with polypharmacy.

METHODS

Older patients (aged ≥ 75 years) admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital between September 2015 and August 2016 and with polypharmacy were included and their comorbidities and medications prescribed at discharge were recorded. Drug Burden Index and Charlson Comorbidity Index were calculated. The number of medications that increased the risk of orthostatic hypotension were recorded. Logistic regression was used to compute the association between analgesic use and participant characteristics, and results were presented as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Drug Burden Index and orthostatic hypotension.

RESULTS

Over 15,000 admissions were identified, of which 1192 patients were included, 824 (69%) of whom were prescribed an analgesic medication. Paracetamol (used by 89% of analgesic users), opioids (34%) and adjuvants (17%) were used more frequently than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (8%). Analgesic users had a higher Drug Burden Index, were prescribed more medications and were less likely to be male compared with non-users. Charlson Comorbidity Index across the cohort was high (7.3 ± 1.9) but there was no difference between analgesic users and non-users, but analgesic users were more likely to have a documented diagnosis of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and falls. Opioid use was associated with the Drug Burden Index, while adjuvant use was associated with orthostatic hypotension. Opioid use was associated with having a diagnosis of osteoporosis and falls.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort of poly-medicated elderly patients, prescription of analgesic medications was common, and these patients are likely to have an increased rate of adverse drug reactions and falls compared with those who were not prescribed analgesic medications.

Health, Functional and Nutritional Determinants of Falls Experienced in the Previous Year-A Cross-Sectional Study in a Geriatric Ward

Falls are a serious health problem in older adults. A limited number of studies assessed their multifactorial nature in geriatric ward patients. The aim of this study is to explore health, functional and nutritional correlates of experiencing fall(s) in the previous year by older inpatients. A cross-sectional study of patients admitted to the department of geriatrics was conducted. A "faller status" was defined based on positive history of falls in the previous 12 months. Health, functional and nutritional factors associated with falls were evaluated, and multivariable logistic regression analysis models were built. A total of 358 patients (median age 82 (IQR 76-86) years, 77.9% women) were recruited, 43.9% of whom reported falls. The "fallers" presented with a significantly higher number of chronic diseases, higher prevalence of Parkinson's disease, peripheral arterial disease, chronic osteoarthritis, more frequently reported urinary incontinence and were dependent on others for daily living activities. They had significantly worse results for the assessment of gait, balance and frailty status. The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form scores and the mean value of serum albumin were significantly lower in the fallers' group. Parkinson's disease (OR = 2.82, CI-1.07-7.45; p = 0.04) and osteoarthritis (OR = 2.08, CI-1.02-4.23; p = 0.04) were the main variables for the outcome prediction, according to the direct multivariable logistic regression analysis. Our findings suggest that Parkinson's disease and osteoarthritis are the main predictors independently associated with a history of falls in patients admitted to the geriatric ward, although the influence of some factors may be underestimated due to the tendency of not taking the history of falls in very frail, functionally dependent and bedridden individuals.

Using the Drug Burden Index to identify older adults at highest risk for medication-related falls

BACKGROUND

The Drug Burden Index (DBI) was developed to assess patient exposure to medications associated with an increased risk of falling. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the DBI and medication-related fall risk.

METHODS

The study used a retrospective cohort design, with a 1-year observation period. Participants (n = 1562) were identified from 31 community pharmacies. We examined the association between DBI scores and four outcomes. Our primary outcome, which was limited to participants who received a medication review, indexed whether the review resulted in at least one medication-related recommendation (e.g., discontinue medication) being communicated to the participant's health care provider. Secondary outcomes indexed whether participants in the full sample: (1) screened positive for fall risk, (2) reported 1+ falls in the past year, and (3) reported 1+ injurious falls in the past year. All outcome variables were dichotomous (yes/no).

RESULTS

Among those who received a medication review (n = 387), the percentage of patients receiving at least one medication-related recommendation ranged from 10.2% among those with DBI scores of 0 compared to 60.2% among those with DBI scores ≥1.0 (Chi-square (4)=42.4, p < 0.0001). Among those screened for fall risk (n = 1058), DBI scores were higher among those who screened positive compared to those who did not (Means = 0.98 (SD = 1.00) versus 0.59 (SD = 0.74), respectively, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the DBI is a useful tool that could be used to improve future research and practice by focusing limited resources on those individuals at greatest risk of medication-related falls.

Prevalence of medication-related falls in 200 consecutive elderly patients with hip fractures: a cross-sectional study

Background

Hip fractures constitute a major health problem in elderly people and are often fall-related. Several factors can contribute to a fall episode leading to hip fracture, including fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), which are often used by elderly people.

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of medication-related falls and to assess the role of FRIDs and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in a population of elderly patients hospitalized for a hip fracture.

Methods

We reviewed the patient records of 200 consecutive patients, aged ≥65 years, who were admitted for a hip fracture and evaluated whether medications were likely to have contributed to the fall episode. PIMs were identified using the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions version 2 (STOPP) and by evaluating indications, contra-indications and interactions of the prescribed medications for each patient.

Results

FRIDs were used by 175 patients (87.5%). Medications were considered a likely contributor to the fall in 82 patients (41%). These were most often psychotropic medications alone or in combination with antihypertensives and/or diuretics. The 82 patients with suspected medication-related falls used more medications, FRIDs and PIMs than the rest of the patients, and in 74 (90%) of the 82 patients, at least one medication considered to be a contributor to the fall was also a PIM.

Conclusions

The prevalence of suspected medication-related falls was 41%. It seems likely that a medication review could have reduced, though not eliminated, the risk of falling in this group of patients.

Joint effects of advancing age and number of potentially inappropriate medication classes on risk of falls in Medicare enrollees

Background

Injurious falls among older adults are both common and costly. The prevalence of falls is known to increase with age and with use of fall-risk drugs/potentially inappropriate medications (FRD/PIM). Little is known about the joint effects of these two risk factors.

Methods

Data for 2013–2015 were obtained from the Truven Health MarketScan® Medicare database comprising utilization and eligibility (enrollment) data for approximately 4 million enrollees annually. A case-control design was used to compare enrollees aged 65–99 years diagnosed with > 1 fall event (n = 110,625) with enrollees without falls (n = 1,567,412). An exploratory analysis of joint age-FRD/PIM effects on fall risks was based on number needed to harm (NNH) calculations for each FRD/PIM therapy class count (compared with 0 FRD/PIMs), stratified by age group. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and fracture history, measured in the 1 year prior to the fall date (cases) or a randomly assigned date (controls).

Results

For each FRD/PIM class count, NNH values decreased with older age (e.g., for 1 FRD/PIM class: from NNH = 333 for ages 65–74 years to NNH = 83 for ages 90–99 years; for 2 FRD/PIM classes: from NNH = 91 for ages 65–74 years to NNH = 38 for ages 90–99 years). NNH decreased to < 15 patients at > 6 classes for age 65–74 years, > 5 classes for age 75–84 years, and > 4 classes for age 85–99 years. Adjusted odds of falling were increased for age-FRD/PIM combinations with smaller NNH values: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.127 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.098–1.156) for NNH = 83–91; AOR = 1.427 (95% CI = 1.398–1.456) for NNH = 17–48; AOR = 1.983 (1.9034–2.032) for NNH < 15.

Conclusion

FRD/PIM use and age appear to have joint effects on fall risk. Older adults at high risk, indicated by small NNH, may be appropriate for fall prevention initiatives, and clinicians may wish to consider decreasing the number of FRD/PIMs utilized by these patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12877-019-1202-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in older patients with multiple myeloma, related to fall risk and autonomous neuropathy

Purpose

Multiple myeloma is a chronic, uncurable hematological cancer with the involvement of multiple organ systems. As a disease affecting older patients, the treatment of multiple myeloma should be based on individual patient characteristics. Polypharmacy is an increasing problem in the care of older patients and in patients with multiple myeloma, polypharmacy is almost inevitable. We aimed to evaluate the applicability of polypharmacy definitions and the relation of polypharmacy with disease outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma.

Methods

Eighty patients older than 65 years and diagnosed with multiple myeloma were retrospectively enrolled. Patient files, prescriptions, evaluations for polypharmacy were determined according to Beers and START/STOPP criteria. Outcomes were recorded from files in terms of fractures, autonomous neuropathy, and renal functions.

Results

Polypharmacy with ≥4 drugs was observed in 65 patients while polypharmacy with ≥5 drugs was observed in 51 patients. Autonomous neuropathy, polypharmacy with more than four or five medications, and use of multiple medications in the same category were related with poor ECOG performance status in women, while prolonged use of benzodiazepines and central nervous system (CNS) affecting drugs and inappropriate polypharmacy were more frequent in men with poor ECOG performance status. The majority of patients aged 75–84 years were observed to use inappropriate polypharmacy. Autonomous neuropathy and fall risk were observed to be significantly related with inappropriate polypharmacy.

Conclusions

Drugs affecting balance and perception should be reconsidered in patients with multiple myeloma.

The Association between Polypharmacy and Hip Fracture in Osteoporotic Women: A Nested Case-Control Study in South Korea

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Polypharmacy, regarded as an indicator of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), may lead to a higher risk of serious health consequences in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the association between polypharmacy and hip fracture in patients with osteoporosis because only a limited number of studies have reported on this association, with inconsistent results to date.

METHODS

In this nested case-control study using a population-based sample cohort, the target cases were female patients with hip fracture diagnosed with osteoporosis and aged ≥ 50 years. Polypharmacy (prescription of an average of five or more daily drugs), PIMs for hip fracture (such as benzodiazepines and glucocorticoids), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and other comorbidities were analyzed during the year preceding the diagnosis of hip fracture. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for hip fracture for the variables were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The cases (n = 1003) showed higher exposure rates to polypharmacy, glucocorticoids, and benzodiazepines, and had more severe comorbidity statuses compared with the controls. The ORs for hip fracture adjusted for confounders increased with polypharmacy level, with persistent statistical significance in most analyses. The ORs (95% confidence intervals), with reference to the 0 to < 1 drug group, were 1.65 (1.31-2.08) and 2.11 (1.12-3.96) for the 5 to < 10 and 10 + drug groups, respectively, with adjustment for PIMs, and 1.34 (1.04-1.72) and 1.45 (0.76-2.80) for the 5 to < 10 and 10 + drug groups, respectively, with adjustment for PIMs and CCI score.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that polypharmacy is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture after adjustment for confounders in patients with osteoporosis. These results highlight the importance of polypharmacy management in preventing hip fractures in patients with osteoporosis.

Pharmacotherapy as major risk factor of falls - analysis of 12 months experience in hospitals in South Bohemia

This study aimed to analyze the effect of fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) and drug-related factors relative to falls through clinical pharmacy service in hospitalized patients, focusing on the relevance of clinical pharmacist evaluation in the context of physician assessment. A prospective study of inpatient falls was conducted in 2017 retrieving data from 4 hospitals in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. An online database was developed to collect patient and fall-related data, and fall evaluation records. Healthcare professionals classified the overall effect of drugs on falls using Likert scale. Univariate and multivariate correlations were performed with a significance level of p < 0.05. Out of the total 280 falls (mean age of patients 77.0 years), a mean of 2.8 diagnoses with fall-related risk, 8.8 drugs, and 4.1 FRIDs per fall were identified. Incidence of falls decreased quarterly (p < 0.001). Use of FRIDs were positively associated with increasing age (p = 0.007). Clinical pharmacists were more likely to identify pharmacotherapy as the relevant fall-related risk, compared to physicians evaluation (p < 0.001). An increasing total number of prescribed drugs as well as higher number of FRIDs increased the suspicion in both professionals in the context of drug-related causes of falls.

Analysis of fall-related adverse events among older adults using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database

Background

Falls are a common but serious problem in older adults, and may lead to fractures and bleeding. As many factors, such as medication, aging, and comorbid diseases may simultaneously affect fall-related adverse events (AEs) in older adults, we evaluated the association between fall-related AEs and the use of medication, aging, and comorbid diseases using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database.

Methods

We analyzed reports of fall-related AEs associated with α-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs (opioids, benzodiazepines, hypnotics and sedatives, non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)) in the JADER database using the reporting odds ratio (ROR). For the definition of falls, we used the Preferred Terms of The Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). We used the association rule mining technique to discover undetected associations, such as potential risk factors.

Results

The JADER database comprised 430,587 reports between April 2004 and November 2016. The RORs (95% CI) of α-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, opioids, benzodiazepines, hypnotics and sedatives, non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, and SSRIs were 1.63 (1.27–2.09), 0.74 (0.63–0.86), 1.26 (1.15–1.38), 0.93 (0.80–1.07), 1.83 (1.68–2.01), 1.55 (1.12–2.14), 2.31 (1.82–2.95), and 2.86 (2.49–3.29), respectively. From the lift value in the association rule mining, the number of administered CNS-active drugs and patient age were associated with fall-related AEs. Furthermore, the scores of lift for patients with herpes zoster administered calcium channel blockers or benzodiazepines and patients with dementia administered benzodiazepines were high.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the number of administered CNS-active drugs and patient age are both associated with fall-related AEs. We recommend that patients with herpes zoster treated with calcium channel blockers and benzodiazepines be closely monitored for fall-related AEs.

Characteristics and outcomes of older adults presented to Spanish emergency departments after a fall

PURPOSE

To study patient profile, fall-related characteristics and immediate outcomes according to age and to determine the effect of age in the outcomes among older patients presenting to ED after a fall.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of the FALL-ER registry that included patients aged ≥ 65 years old that presented to five Spanish EDs after a fall. Patients were classified into three age categories, and demographic, comorbidity, chronic medication, fall-related characteristics, health care resources and immediate outcomes data were analysed.

RESULTS

We included 1610 patients, 541 (28%) aged 65-74, 647 (40.2%) aged 74-84 and 512 (31.8%) aged ≥ 85 years old. Indoor falls, with no witnesses, at night and due to non-identified causes were significantly more likely among the oldest old. Medications related to risk of falling and antithrombotic therapy significantly increased with age category. Physical, functional and psychological consequences and healthcare resource use increased significantly with age group. Age was independently associated with severe injury (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.01-1.04), fear of falling (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.01-1.04) and acute functional impairment (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.00-1.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Indoor falls, with no witnesses, at night and due to non-identified causes were significantly more likely among the oldest old. The probability of presenting with severe injury, fear of falling and acute functional impairment increases with age.

Interactions between drugs and geriatric syndromes in nursing home and home care: results from Shelter and IBenC projects

AIM

Drugs may interact with geriatric syndromes by playing a role in the continuation, recurrence or worsening of these conditions. Aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of interactions between drugs and three common geriatric syndromes (delirium, falls and urinary incontinence) among older adults in nursing home and home care in Europe.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional multicenter study among 4023 nursing home residents participating in the Services and Health for Elderly in Long-TERm care (Shelter) project and 1469 home care patients participating in the Identifying best practices for care-dependent elderly by Benchmarking Costs and outcomes of community care (IBenC) project. Exposure to interactions between drugs and geriatric syndromes was assessed by 2015 Beers criteria.

RESULTS

790/4023 (19.6%) residents in the Shelter Project and 179/1469 (12.2%) home care patients in the IBenC Project presented with one or more drug interactions with geriatric syndromes. In the Shelter project, 288/373 (77.2%) residents experiencing a fall, 429/659 (65.1%) presenting with delirium and 180/2765 (6.5%) with urinary incontinence were on one or more interacting drugs. In the IBenC project, 78/172 (45.3%) participants experiencing a fall, 80/182 (44.0%) presenting with delirium and 36/504 (7.1%) with urinary incontinence were on one or more interacting drugs.

CONCLUSION

Drug-geriatric syndromes interactions are common in long-term care patients. Future studies and interventions aimed at improving pharmacological prescription in the long-term care setting should assess not only drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, but also interactions involving geriatric syndromes.

Anti-hypertensive medications and injurious falls in an older population of low socioeconomic status: a nested case-control study

Background

This study aimed to determine whether the number of anti-hypertensive medication classes or any change in anti-hypertensive medication were associated with injurious fall among the community-dwelling older population of low socioeconomic status.

Methods

Using data from electronic medical records, we performed a nested case-control study among older Singapore residents (≥60) of low socioeconomic status (N = 210). Controls (n = 162) were matched to each case (n = 48) by age and gender. Variables with p < 0.10 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis. We used conditional logistic regression to assess the associations of the number of anti-hypertensive medication classes and change in anti-hypertensive medication with injurious falls. We also performed stepwise regressions as sensitivity analyses. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean (±SD) age of participants was 78.1 (± 8.33) years; 127 (60.4%) were female, 189 (90.0%) were Chinese. Those on ≥2 anti-hypertensive medication classes had an increased risk of experiencing an injurious fall compared to those not on any anti-hypertensive medication (OR = 5.45; CI:1.49–19.93; p = 0.01). Among those who were taking anti-hypertensive medication, those who had a change in the medication 180-day prior to injurious fall had a significantly increased risk of experiencing an injurious fall compared to those that did not report any change in anti-hypertensive medication (OR = 3.88; CI:1.23–12.19; p = 0.02). Sensitivity analyses generated consistent findings.

Conclusion

Both ≥2 anti-hypertensive medication classes and change in anti-hypertensive medication were associated with an increased risk of experiencing an injurious fall among the older population of low socioeconomic status. Our findings could guide prescribers to exercise caution in the initiation of anti-hypertensive medications or in making medication changes, especially among the older population of low socioeconomic status.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12877-018-0871-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association Between Chronic or Acute Use of Antihypertensive Class of Medications and Falls in Older Adults. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Evaluating effect of acute or chronic use of antihypertensives on risk of falls in older adults.

METHODS

Data sources: Systematic search of primary research articles in CINAHL, Cochrane, EBM, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases from January 1 2007 to June 1 2017. Study selection: Research studies of cohort, case-control, case-crossover, cross-sectional, or randomized controlled trial (RCT) design examining association between antihypertensives and falls in people older than 60 years were evaluated. Data synthesis: Twenty-nine studies (N = 1,234,667 participants) were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines were used for abstracting data and random-effects inverse-variance meta-analysis was conducted on 26 articles examining chronic antihypertensive use, with odds ratios (ORs) and hazards ratios (HRs) analyzed separately. Time-risk analysis was performed on 5 articles examining acute use of antihypertensives. Outcomes: Pooled ORs and HRs were calculated to determine the association between chronic antihypertensive use and falls. For time-risk analysis, OR was plotted with respect to number of days since antihypertensive commencement, change, or dose increase.

RESULTS

There was no significant association between risk of falling and chronic antihypertensive medication use (OR = 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-1.01, I2 = 64.1%, P = 0.000; and HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-1.00, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.706). The time-risk analysis demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of falling 0-24 hours after antihypertensive initiation, change, or dose increase. When diuretics were used, the risk remained significantly elevated till day 21.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant association between chronic use of antihypertensives and falls in older adults. Risk of falls is highest on day zero for all antihypertensive medications.

A Comprehensive Review of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use in The Elderly

NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are one of the most commonly prescribed pain medications. It is a highly effective drug class for pain and inflammation; however, NSAIDs are known for multiple adverse effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiovascular side effects, and NSAID induced nephrotoxicity. As our society ages, it is crucial to have comprehensive knowledge of this class of medication in the elderly population. Therefore, we reviewed the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, current guidelines for NSAIDs use, adverse effect profile, and drug interaction of NSAIDs and commonly used medications in the elderly.

Association between polypharmacy and falls in older adults: a longitudinal study from England

OBJECTIVES

Assess the longitudinal association between polypharmacy and falls and examine the differences in this association by different thresholds for polypharmacy definitions in a nationally representative sample of adults aged over 60 years from England.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing waves 6 and 7.

PARTICIPANTS

5213 adults aged 60 or older.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Rates, incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI for falls in people with and without polypharmacy.

RESULTS

A total of 5213 participants contributed 10 502 person-years of follow-up, with a median follow-up of 2.02 years (IQR 1.9-2.1 years). Of the 1611 participants with polypharmacy, 569 reported at least one fall within the past 2 years (rate: 175 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 161 to 190), and of the 3602 participants without polypharmacy 875 reported at least one fall (rate: 121 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 113 to 129). The rate of falls was 21% higher in people with polypharmacy compared with people without polypharmacy (adjusted IRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.31). Using ≥4 drugs threshold the rate of falls was 18% higher in people with polypharmacy compared with people without (adjusted IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.28), whereas using ≥10 drugs threshold polypharmacy was associated with a 50% higher rate of falls (adjusted IRR 1.50, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.67).

CONCLUSIONS

We found almost one-third of the total population using five or more drugs, which was significantly associated with 21% increased rate of falls over a 2-year period. Further exploration of the effects of these complex drug combinations in the real world with a detailed standardised assessment of polypharmacy is greatly required along with pragmatic studies in primary care, which will help inform whether the threshold for a detailed medication review should be lowered.

Association of psychotropic drug use with falls among older adults in Germany. Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011 (DEGS1)

Purpose

To investigate the association of psychotropic drug use with falls among older adults in Germany based on data from the National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008–2011 (DEGS1).

Methods

DEGS1 collected data on drug use in the past 7 days and on falls occurred in the last 12 months. Study participants were older adults aged 65–79 years with complete data on drug use and falls (N = 1,833). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were derived from logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders including socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors (alcohol drinking), body mass index and health conditions (frailty, vision impairment, disability, polypharmacy, blood pressure) as well as use of potential falls-risk-increasing drugs. SPSS complex sample methods were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Compared to people without falls, people with falls (n = 370) had a higher psychotropic drug use (33.1% vs. 20.7%, p < .001). After adjusting for potential confounders, use of psychotropic drugs overall was associated with a higher risk of falls (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.14–2.37). This was particularly true for the use of synthetic psychotropic drugs (1.57, 1.08–2.28), antidepressants overall (2.88, 1.63–5.09) or synthetic antidepressants (2.66, 1.50–4.73), specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (6.22, 2.28–17.0). Similar results were found for recurrent falls.

Conclusions

Use of psychotropic drugs overall, especially synthetic antidepressants like SSRIs, is associated with higher risks of falls and recurrent falls among community dwelling older adults aged 65–79 years in Germany.

Prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy among urban community-dwelling older adults in multi-ethnic Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the older population.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy in a cohort of urban community-dwelling older adults receiving chronic medications in Malaysia.

METHODS

This was a baseline study in the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research cohort. The inclusion criteria were individuals aged ≥55years and taking at least one medication chronically (≥3 months). Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire during home visits where medications taken were reviewed. Health outcomes assessed were frequency of falls, functional disability, potential inappropriate medication use (PIMs), potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs), healthcare utilisation and quality of life (QoL). Risk factors and health outcomes associated with polypharmacy (≥5 medications including dietary supplements) were determined using multivariate regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 1256 participants were included with a median (interquartile range) age of 69(63-74) years. The prevalence of polypharmacy was 45.9% while supplement users made up 56.9% of the cohort. The risk factors associated with increasing medication use were increasing age, Indian ethnicity, male, having a higher number of comorbidities specifically those diagnosed with cardiovascular, endocrine and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as supplement use. Health outcomes significantly associated with polypharmacy were PIMS, PDDIs and increased healthcare utilisation.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of older adults on chronic medications were exposed to polypharmacy and use of dietary supplements contributed significantly to this. Medication reviews are warranted to reduce significant polypharmacy related issues in the older population.