The relationship between discharge medications and falls in post‐hospitalised older adults: A 6‐month follow‐up. (25th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lam, Kenneth; Lee, Den‐Ching A.; Lalor, Aislinn F.; Stolwyk, Rene; Russell, Grant; Brown, Ted; McDermott, Fiona; Haines, Terry P.
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 38:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 190
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2019-02-25
• Subjects: aged -- discharge -- falls -- hospitals -- Medication Therapy Management -- patient; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12628
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To identify discharge medications, especially psychotropic medications that are associated with falls, amongst older adults within 6 months following hospitalisation. Methods: Negative binomial regression was used to examine relationships between discharge medications and falls in older post‐hospitalised adults. Multiple regression that considered falls risk factors at discharge was performed. Results: Data for 267 participants showed that discharge medications were not independently associated with falls postdischarge after adjustment for other falls risk factors. Male gender (adjusted incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval, CI]) 2.15 [1.36‐3.40]), higher depression scores (1.14 [1.05‐1.25]) and co‐morbidity of neurological disease other than stroke (5.98 [3.08‐11.60]) were independently associated with an increased rate of falls. Higher depression scores (1.20 [1.11‐1.31]) and co‐morbidity of cancer (1.97 [1.20‐3.25]) were independently associated with an increased rate of injurious falls in the 6 months postdischarge. Conclusion: Falls prevention strategies, other than hospital discharge medication management in the postdischarge older adults, warrant investigation.