Nearly all adults at risk of falls were given a prescription drug in 2017, according to a new UB study.
The study found that the percentage of adults 65 and older prescribed a drug that increased the risk of falls to 94% in 2017, a sharp jump from 57% in 1999. The research also showed that the death rate caused by a fall in it older adults doubled in the same period.
Even small waterfalls can be dangerous for older adults. Non-fatal falls can result in injuries – such as hip fractures and head trauma – which can significantly reduce remaining quality of life. Each year, nearly $ 50 billion is spent on medical costs associated with fall injuries among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The alarming results underscore the importance of interventions for potentially inappropriate drug disorders among older, frail patients, says Amy Shaver, chief investigator and postdoctoral fellow at the School Public Health and Health Professions.
“Our study reveals two trends increasing at the same time at a population level which should be studied at an individual level. We hope it will start further discussions with healthcare teams about the pros and cons of prescription drugs for vulnerable populations, ”said Shaver.
Additional researchers in the School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences include Collin Clark, clinical assistant professor; David Jacobs, associate professor; Robert Wahler Jr., clinical professor; and Mary Hejna, a pharmacy resident at Kaleida Health.
Recently published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, the study examined data on deaths due to falls and the filling of prescriptions among people 65 and older from the National Vital Statistics System and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Drugs that increase the risk of falls include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives (for high blood pressure), opioids, sedative hypnotics and benzodiazepines (tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax), as well as other nonprescription medications. .
From 1999-2017, more than 7.8 billion drug orders that increased the risk of falls were filled by older adults in the United States. Most of the medications were for antihypertensives. However, there was also a sharp increase in the use of antidepressants, from 12 million prescriptions in 1999 to more than 52 million in 2017.
“The increase in the use of antidepressant medications seen in this study appears to be related to the use of these agents as safer alternatives to older medications for conditions such as depression and anxiety,” says Shaver. “However, it is important to remember that these medications are still associated with increased risks of falls and fractures in older adults.”
Women were also found to be more likely than men to receive drugs that increased the risk of falls, particularly black women, who received the medications at the highest level compared to women from other races. White women aged 85 and over experienced the largest increase in falls from falls, rising 160% between 1999 and 2017.
The investigators are involved in multidisciplinary disengagement campaigns conducted through Team Alice and the UB Center for Successful Aging. The efforts encourage and evaluate disorientation discussions initiated by patients / carers with healthcare providers, encourage interprofessional education about prescribing, and advocate for policy changes and system.
The research was partly funded by the National Cancer Institute.