title: Drug use and accidental falls in an intermediate care facility.
abstract: The relationship between nonenvironment-caused falls and drug use was evaluated in an intermediate care facility over a 14-month period. The medical problems and selected drug use of 45 patients who had fallen were retrospectively compared with those of a matched control population of 30 patients who had not fallen during this same period. Antihypertensives, diuretics, tranquilizers, sedative/hypnotics, antidepressants, and antianginal agents were reviewed for all patients. The use of diuretics, specifically furosemide, and sedative/hypnotics was significantly greater in the population who had fallen. Observations of dizziness, confusion, insomnia, and ataxia were recorded more frequently in that group, as well. Closer monitoring of medications, especially in specific drug classes, may help prevent accidental falls in this type of institution.
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D007380:Intermediate Care Facilities; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D013997:Time Factors; D014717:Vertigo / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives