Medication Use and Falls Risk in Older Adults: Insights from our Integrated Care Programme for Older Person’s Service

• Published in: Age and ageing 2024-09, Vol.53 (Supplement_4)
• Main Authors: Nash, Karen, Wade, Ruth, Connolly, Warren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antidepressants; Antiepileptic agents; Antiepileptic drugs; Antihypertensives; Benzodiazepines; Chart reviews; Dementia; Dementia disorders; Efficacy; Falls; Integrated care; Integrated delivery systems; Intervention; Medical records; Older people; Opioids; Optimization; Polypharmacy; Population studies; Prescription drugs; Prevention programs; Public health; Recurrent; Regression analysis; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae178.192

Abstract Background Falls pose a critical public health challenge for the elderly, often resulting in severe injuries and complications. Some medications have been identified as potential risk factors for falls in this demographic. The National Integrated Care Programme for Older People has prioritised the development of specialised services targeting frailty, dementia, and falls management to address this concern. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of older adults to explore the relationship between medication use and falls risk. Data on recurrent falls, polypharmacy (defined as concurrent use of five or more medications), and fall frequency were extracted from medical records. Logistic regression analysis assessed the association between STOPPfall medication use and falling risk, calculating odds ratios and p-values to determine significance. Results The study cohort comprised 71 older adults, with a median age of 84 years (range 66-95 years), of whom 69% were female. Among the participants, 79% reported experiencing recurrent falls, highlighting the prevalence of this issue within the sample. Additionally, a substantial proportion (90.1%) exhibited polypharmacy, indicating the commonality of multiple medication use among the elderly population studied. Antihypertensives were prescribed to 42 patients (59%), antidepressants to 26 patients (37%), opioids to 15 patients (21%), benzodiazepines to 12 patients (17%), and antiepileptic drugs to 4 patients (6%). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between the use of STOPPfall medications and the risk of falling, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.84 (95% CI: 1.11-4.23, p =0.044). Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of medication review and optimization in fall prevention strategies. Targeted interventions to reduce potentially harmful medication use identified by STOPPfall criteria may aid in fall reduction among older adults. Further research is needed to explore the efficacy of such interventions.