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Polypharmacy as a risk for fall occurrence in geriatric outpatients.
- Source :
-
Geriatrics & Gerontology International . Jul2012, Vol. 12 Issue 3, p425-430. 6p. 1 Diagram, 3 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Objective: To investigate the predictors of falls, such as comorbidity and medication, in geriatric outpatients in a longitudinal observational study. Methods: A total of 172 outpatients (45 men and 126 women, mean age 76.9 ± 7.0 years) were evaluated. Physical examination, clinical history and medication profile were obtained from each patient at baseline. These patients were followed for up to 2 years and falls were self-reported to their physicians. The factors associated with falls were analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 32 patients experienced falls within 2 years. On univariate analysis, older age, osteoporosis, number of comorbid conditions and number of drugs were significantly associated with falls within 2 years. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the number of drugs was associated with falls, independent of age, sex, number of comorbid conditions and other factors that were significantly associated in univariate analysis. A receiver-operator curve evaluating the optimal cut-off value for the number of drugs showed that taking five or more drugs was a significant risk. Conclusion: In geriatric outpatients, polypharmacy is associated with falls. Intervention studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship between polypharmacy, comorbidity and falls. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 425-430. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *RISK factors of falling down
*AGE distribution
*CHI-squared test
*CONFIDENCE intervals
*DRUG utilization
*EPIDEMIOLOGY
*LONGITUDINAL method
*OSTEOPOROSIS
*PHYSICAL diagnosis
*QUESTIONNAIRES
*RESEARCH funding
*SELF-evaluation
*SEX distribution
*STATISTICS
*T-test (Statistics)
*COMORBIDITY
*DATA analysis
*MULTIPLE regression analysis
*PREDICTIVE validity
*RECEIVER operating characteristic curves
*POLYPHARMACY
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14441586
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Geriatrics & Gerontology International
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 76918454
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2011.00783.x