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Review
. 2018 Mar 26;21(1):14-25.
doi: 10.5770/cgj.21.268. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Medications & Polypharmacy Influence on Recurrent Fallers in Community: a Systematic Review

Yu Ming  1 , Aleksandra Zecevic  2
Affiliations
Review

Medications & Polypharmacy Influence on Recurrent Fallers in Community: a Systematic Review

Yu Ming et al. Can Geriatr J. .

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize information about the impact different classes of medications and polypharmacy have on recurrent falls, defined as two or more falls in a 12-month period, in community-dwelling older adults. After adjustment for confounders such as age, gender, weight or depression symptoms, the reviewed studies suggested that older adults who use antidepressants, sedatives or hypnotics and anti-epileptics were more likely to experience recurrent falls than non-users. Polypharmacy (use of four or more prescription medications daily) caused 1.5-2 times higher possibility of recurrent falls in older adults. As a high-risk group, recurrent fallers require meaningful intervention. Medications are believed to be a modifiable risk factor in falls prevention; hence, special consideration should be taken to balance the benefit and harm in initiating, continuing or increasing certain classes of medications in elderly recurrent fallers.

Keywords: drugs; medications; older adults; polypharmacy; recurrent falls.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES The authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of searching and selection of included papers
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Use of antidepressants and recurrent falls: meta-analysis of two prospective cohort studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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