title: [Polypharmacy and falls in the Elderly].
abstract: Falls and their consequences are a major problem in geriatric medicine. Main causes are the combination of age-related physiological changes with multimorbidity and subsequent polypharmacy. Elderly patients are more susceptible to adverse drug effects and have less compensatory capacity than younger adults. Therefore careful monitoring of side effects is indicated and prescribing for elderly patients calls for alertness in order to identify symptoms as possible adverse drug effects.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Akutgeriatrie, Krankenhaus Hietzing mit Neurologischem Zentrum Rosenhügel, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sommeregger
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Geriatrie, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iglseder
authors.affiliation: Anstaltsapotheke, Krankenhaus Hietzing mit Neurologischem Zentrum Rosenhügel, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Böhmdorfer
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Innere Medizin und Akutgeriatrie, Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl, Zirl, Austria.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Benvenuti-Falger
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Akutgeriatrie/Remobilisation, Landeskrankenhaus Gmunden, Gmunden, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dovjak
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Innere Medizin und Akutgeriatrie, Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl, Zirl, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lechleitner
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Regina E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Roller
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Innere Medizin und Akutgeriatrie, Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl, Zirl, Austria. markus.gosch@tilak.at.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gosch
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs