BACKGROUND: Falls in older people are associated with poor prognosis. Medication use is a potential cause of falls. Our aim was to systemically review all original articles examining medication use as a risk factor for falls or fall-related fractures in people aged >/=60 years. METHODS: We searched English articles in Medline (1996-2004) indexed under "falls" or "accidental falls" and "pharmaceutical preparations" or specific groups of drugs. We excluded studies not meeting the age criterion, not controlled with nonusers of target medicines or nonfallers, or with no clear definition of target medication. RESULTS: Twenty-eight observational studies and one randomized controlled trial met the inclusion criteria. The number of participants ranged from 70 to 132,873. The outcome measure was a fall in 22 studies and a fracture in 7 studies. The main group of drugs associated with an increased risk of falling was psychotropics: benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Antiepileptics and drugs that lower blood pressure were weakly associated with falls. CONCLUSIONS: Central nervous system drugs, especially psychotropics, seem to be associated with an increased risk of falls. The quality of observational studies needs to be improved, for many appear to lack even a clear definition of a fall, target medicines, or prospective follow-up. Many drugs commonly used by older persons are not systematically studied as risk factors for falls.
BACKGROUND:Falls in older people are associated with poor prognosis. Medication use is a potential cause of falls. Our aim was to systemically review all original articles examining medication use as a risk factor for falls or fall-related fractures in people aged >/=60 years. METHODS: We searched English articles in Medline (1996-2004) indexed under "falls" or "accidental falls" and "pharmaceutical preparations" or specific groups of drugs. We excluded studies not meeting the age criterion, not controlled with nonusers of target medicines or nonfallers, or with no clear definition of target medication. RESULTS: Twenty-eight observational studies and one randomized controlled trial met the inclusion criteria. The number of participants ranged from 70 to 132,873. The outcome measure was a fall in 22 studies and a fracture in 7 studies. The main group of drugs associated with an increased risk of falling was psychotropics: benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Antiepileptics and drugs that lower blood pressure were weakly associated with falls. CONCLUSIONS: Central nervous system drugs, especially psychotropics, seem to be associated with an increased risk of falls. The quality of observational studies needs to be improved, for many appear to lack even a clear definition of a fall, target medicines, or prospective follow-up. Many drugs commonly used by older persons are not systematically studied as risk factors for falls.
Authors: Annelies C Ham; Karin M A Swart; Anke W Enneman; Suzanne C van Dijk; Sadaf Oliai Araghi; Janneke P van Wijngaarden; Nikita L van der Zwaluw; Elske M Brouwer-Brolsma; Rosalie A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; Natasja M van Schoor; Tischa J M van der Cammen; Paul Lips; Lisette C P G M de Groot; André G Uitterlinden; Renger F Witkamp; Bruno H Stricker; Nathalie van der Velde Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2014-12 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Anna-Liisa Juola; Mikko P Bjorkman; Sarita Pylkkanen; Harriet Finne-Soveri; Helena Soini; Hannu Kautiainen; J Simon Bell; Kaisu H Pitkala Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Nicholas M Wilson; Sarah N Hilmer; Lyn M March; Jian Sheng Chen; Danijela Gnjidic; Rebecca S Mason; Ian D Cameron; Philip N Sambrook Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Eija Lönnroos; Danijela Gnjidic; Sarah N Hilmer; J Simon Bell; Hannu Kautiainen; Raimo Sulkava; Sirpa Hartikainen Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2012-05-01 Impact factor: 3.923