Nina L Blachman1, Rosanne M Leipzig2,3, Madhu Mazumdar4, Jashvant Poeran4. 1. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York. 2. Departments of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. 3. Departments of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. 4. Departments of Medicine and Population Health Science and Policy, Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine dosages of high-risk medications administered to elderly adults who fall in the hospital and to determine whether electronic default doses are appropriate for elderly adults. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Large urban academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older experiencing a fall. MEASUREMENTS: Prescribed daily dosages and use of high-risk medications (opiates, benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-receptor agonists (BRAs), sleep medications, muscle relaxants, antipsychotics) administered within 24 hours before a fall were ascertained and compared with published recommended dosages for older adults and the hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) default doses for these drugs. RESULTS: Of 328 falls, 62% occurred in individuals administered at least one high-risk medication within the 24 hours before the fall, with 16% of the falls involving individuals receiving two, and another 16% in individuals receiving three or more. High-risk medications were often administered at higher-than-recommended geriatric daily doses, in particular benzodiazepines and BRAs, for which the dose was higher than recommended in 29 of 51 cases (57%). Hospital EMR default doses were higher than recommended for 41% (12/29) of medications examined. CONCLUSION: High-risk medications were administered to older fallers. Doses administered and EMR default doses were often higher than recommended. Decreasing EMR default doses for individuals aged 65 and older and warnings about the cumulative numbers of high-risk medications prescribed per person may be simple interventions that could decrease inpatient falls.
OBJECTIVES: To examine dosages of high-risk medications administered to elderly adults who fall in the hospital and to determine whether electronic default doses are appropriate for elderly adults. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Large urban academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older experiencing a fall. MEASUREMENTS: Prescribed daily dosages and use of high-risk medications (opiates, benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-receptor agonists (BRAs), sleep medications, muscle relaxants, antipsychotics) administered within 24 hours before a fall were ascertained and compared with published recommended dosages for older adults and the hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) default doses for these drugs. RESULTS: Of 328 falls, 62% occurred in individuals administered at least one high-risk medication within the 24 hours before the fall, with 16% of the falls involving individuals receiving two, and another 16% in individuals receiving three or more. High-risk medications were often administered at higher-than-recommended geriatric daily doses, in particular benzodiazepines and BRAs, for which the dose was higher than recommended in 29 of 51 cases (57%). Hospital EMR default doses were higher than recommended for 41% (12/29) of medications examined. CONCLUSION: High-risk medications were administered to older fallers. Doses administered and EMR default doses were often higher than recommended. Decreasing EMR default doses for individuals aged 65 and older and warnings about the cumulative numbers of high-risk medications prescribed per person may be simple interventions that could decrease inpatient falls.
Authors: Marja-Liisa Dahl; Karin Leander; Max Vikström; Clara Frumerie; Sofia Nordenmalm; Jette Möller; Karin Söderberg-Löfdal Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-03-11 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Ainsley Bloomer; Meghan Wally; Gisele Bailey; Tamar Roomian; Madhav Karunakar; Joseph R Hsu; Rachel Seymour; Michael Beuhler; Michael Bosse; Michael Gibbs; Christopher Griggs; Steven Jarrett; Daniel Leas; Susan Odum; Michael Runyon; Animita Saha; Ziquing Yu; Brad Watling; Stephen Wyatt Journal: Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil Date: 2022-10-12