ISSN: 1859 - 2872
Relationship between falls and polypharmacy in older patients
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Abstract
Objective: To assess relationship between falls and polypharmacy in older patients at National Geriatric Hospital. Subject and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study in 435 patients aged 60 years old or older at outpatient department, National Geriatric Hospital. Polypharmacy was defined as concomitant administration of five or more drugs. Information about fall history in the past year, the drugs used was collected based on a designed questionnaire. Result: The rate of falls, multiple falls, traumatic falls in the previous 1 year were 31%, 13.3%, 6.7% and 2.3%, respectively. The rate of falls, the rate of multiple falls, the traumatic fall and the fall requiring hospitalization in the previous 1 year in the polypharmacy group were statistically significantly higher than the non-polypharmacy group. The rate of falls and the average number of falls increased with the amount of medication used. Drugs that increase the rate of falls such as antihypertensive drugs (OR = 1.73), antidiabetic drugs (OR = 1.77), Parkinson drugs (OR = 1.68), benzodiazepines (OR = 6.86). Conclusion: Polypharmacy was significantly associated with the rate of falls, multiple falls, traumatic falls in the previous 1 year. The greater the number of drugs used concurrently, the higher the rate of falls and the average number of falls in the elderly, especially when using drug classes such as antihypertensives, antidiabetics, parkinsonians and benzodiazepines.
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References
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