The risk of falls in the elderly is high due to the physical and cognitive changes that are associated with ageing. Falls often incur a lot of medical expenses. However, it is important to understand that underlying medical conditions and medications may also play a role.
Several studies have reported a correlation between polypharmacy and falls in older adults. These studies used self-reported data and short follow-up periods. In addition, several meta-analyses have shown an association between falls and psychotropic drugs. Other studies have also found an association with cardiological and analgesic drugs. https://personalmedicalalarm.com/medical-alert-alarm/ Among these, polypharmacy was identified as a significant risk factor.
Researchers evaluated the relationship between medication use and fall risk in elderly patients in a transversal analytical study. They collected data from participants' medication logbooks, which include information about sex, age and residency.
Polypharmacy is a chronic co-prescription of multiple medications. This increases the possibility of drug-disease interactions, as well as the potential for side effects. Consequently, it is important for health care providers to look for signs of problematic polypharmacy during annual wellness examinations.
A population-based case control study conducted in the United Kingdom found that hospitalization due to a fall was significantly increased with polypharmacy. For those with nine or more medications, the cumulative incidence curve was steeply increasing. Moreover, the incidence was significantly higher in those with a previous fall.
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Another study aimed to examine the correlation between physical activity and medication use in the elderly. It included eight hundred and twenty-seven subjects. Using medication logbooks, researchers compiled data on the subjects' use of medication, including the number of medications they took and their underlying disease. https://personalmedicalalarm.com/fall-detection-alarms/
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