The association between medications and falls in Australian nursing-home residents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether commonly used medications increase the risk of falling in elderly Australians living in nursing homes.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
A 104-bed nursing home in western Sydney during 1990-1991.


METHODS
The cases comprised 71 people who had at least one fall during the 12-month study period; 55 people with no falls over the same period served as the control group. The mean age of subjects was 82 years.


METHODS
Data included medication use in the 24 hours prior to a fall, and assessments of ambulatory status, and gait and balance problems. All data were abstracted from medical records.


RESULTS
After adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, health status, depression, dementia, incontinence, ambulatory status, gait and balance problems, length of stay and use of other medications), the use of antipsychotics was found to be an important risk factor for falls (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2-16.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the conclusion that antipsychotic medications increase the risk of falls among elderly Australians living in nursing homes. Health professionals should minimise the use of these medications.
Yip
Y B
YB
Department of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW.
Cumming
R G
RG
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents