ISSN: 1859 - 2872
Relationship between polypharmacy and falls in patients aged 65 years old or older
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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess relationship between falls and polypharmacy in patients aged 65 years old or older. Subject and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 605 patients aged ≥ 65 years from June to December of 2020 at Emergency Department, 108 Military Central Hospital. Polypharmacy was defined as concomitant administration of four or more medications. 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 35.7%, 10.6% and 8.8%, respectively. These rates in the polypharmacy group were statistically significantly higher than the non-polypharmacy group. The rate of falls increased with the amount of medication used. Drugs that increase the rate of falls such as benzodiazepines (OR = 4.98), antihypertensive drugs (OR = 1.86), diuretics (OR = 1.83); sedatives and hypnotics drugs (OR = 1.75), antidiabetic drugs (OR = 1.69). Conclusion: Polypharmacy was significantly associated with the rate of falls in the previous 1 year. The higher the rate of falls and the average number of falls in the elderly, especially when using drug classes such as benzodiazepines; antihypertensive drugs; diuretics; sedatives and hypnotics drugs; antidiabetic drugs.
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References
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