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

Abstract

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.

Helicobacter pylori Related Diseases and Osteoporotic Fractures (Narrative Review)

“…The prevalence of suspected medication-related falls is about 41% [ 555 ] to 49% [ 556 ]. Increased risk of falls was documented in users of anxiolytics/hypnotics, opioids, sedatives, antihypertensives (especially alpha-blockers), antidepressants, antiparkinsonian medications, antiepileptics and antiarrhythmics [ 557 , 558 , 559 , 560 , 561 , 562 , 563 , 564 , 565 , 566 , 567 , 568 , 569 , 570 , 571 , 572 , 573 , 574 , 575 , 576 , 577 , 578 , 579 , 580 , 581 , 582 , 583 ]; polypharmacy is strongly associated with injurious falls and fractures [ 574 , 582 , 584 , 585 , 586 , 587 , 588 ].…”

Association between fractures and traditional risk factors for osteoporosis and low bone mineral density in patients with obesity

“…Type 2 diabetes mellitus was frequent in our study participants, and the degree of obesity varied with the presence of diabetes and use of antidiabetic drugs, as shown in Supplementary Table 2. However, only the use of antihypertensive and hypoglycemic agents has been associated with the occurrence of fractures (probably due to falls) (31). Notably, the exclusion of patients with diabetes in our study did not change the results considerably.…”

Adherence and Barriers to Drug Therapy: Relationship With the Risk of Falls in Older Adults

“…A study carried out at a hospital in Denmark identified that almost half of the patients who used FRIDs presented contributing factors for the occurrence of falls, such as dizziness, hypotension or symptoms of orthostatic hypotension 31 . In this regard, in the older adults interviewed, we identified the use of medications similar to FRIDs, such as psychotropics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, opioids, antihypertensives and diuretics, which can contribute to the onset of contributing signs and symptoms to the occurrence of falls.…”