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. 2017 Jul;34(7):555-565.
doi: 10.1007/s40266-017-0470-x.

Falls-Related Drug Use and Risk of Falls Among Older Adults: A Study in a US Medicare Population

Shirley Musich  1 , Shaohung S Wang  2 , Joann Ruiz  3 , Kevin Hawkins  2 , Ellen Wicker  4
Affiliations

Falls-Related Drug Use and Risk of Falls Among Older Adults: A Study in a US Medicare Population

Shirley Musich et al. Drugs Aging. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Approximately one-third of community-dwelling older adults fall each year, and approximately 10% have falls requiring medical services. Among other factors, research studies have linked certain medications with an increased risk of falls.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the risk of falls relative to use patterns among new and continuing falls-related drug (FRD) users.

Methods: A 10% random sample, insured in AARP® Medicare Supplement and AARP Medicare Part D Rx plans, was utilized to define new and continuing FRD users. New users had a 12-month pre-period without FRD use, whereas continuing users had at least one FRD in the pre-period. Both groups had 12-month follow-up after initiating or continuing FRD use. Characteristics associated with the risk of falls for new and continuing users were determined using multivariate logistic regression models.

Results: Among insureds, 44% used at least one of the FRD classes. Of these, 29% were new users (N = 35,340) and 71% were continuing users (N = 121,488). Fall rates for the two subgroups were similar at 7 and 8%, respectively. Characteristics associated with the risk of falls were previous injurious fall, use of two or more classes of FRDs, older age, poorer health, and being female. New users were at higher risk than continuing users.

Conclusion: New users of FRDs were at highest risk of falls, and continuing users were at increased risk, especially with higher numbers of FRD classes. Both groups could benefit from falls awareness and prevention programs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding

This work was funded by the Medicare Supplement Insurance Program. The research did not receive any specific grant or grant number from funding agencies.

Conflict of interest

Shirley Musich, Shaohung Wang, Joann Ruiz and Kevin Hawkins are employed by and hold stock in UnitedHealth Group. Ellen Wicker is employed by AARP Services, Inc. Their compensation was not dependent on the results obtained in this research, and the investigators retained full independence in the conduct of this research.

Ethical approval

This research is covered under New England IRB No. 120160532.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Risk of falls among a new and b continuing FRD users. Both new and continuing FRD users were at increased risk of a fall associated with multiple FRD classes. New users were at a higher magnitude of risk. Numbers of individuals at risk by number of drug classes would indicate that an intervention could feasibly target those individuals at highest risk (four or more classes and/or three classes; new > continuing users). FRD falls-related drug
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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