Psychoactive medication, alcohol use, and falls among older adults.
The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) the prevalence of psychoactive medication and alcohol use and (2) the relationship among psychoactive medications, alcohol use, and falls in a sample of 1028 independently living women and men, aged 55 and older. Twenty-six percent of the sample reported falling, 28% were taking one or more psychoactive drugs, and 38% drank alcohol during the past year. Analyses with logistic regression indicate that predictors of falls were psychoactive drug use, age, and number of illnesses. Living alone, frequency of alcohol use, and gender were not significant predictors.
Sheahan
S L
SL
University of Kentucky, College of Nursing, Lexington 40536-0232, USA.
Coons
S J
SJ
Robbins
C A
CA
Martin
S S
SS
Hendricks
J
J
Latimer
M
M
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects
D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents