Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A (2023)

Background: Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults. Pharmacological factors that place the elderly at greater risk of drug-related side effects include changes in body composition, serum albumin, total body water, and hepatic and renal functioning. Drug use is one of the most modifiable risk factors for falls and falls-related injuries. The simultaneous use of several medications is an important risk factor for injurious falls in older people.
Aim: To assess the role of fall risk increasing drugs and potentially inappropriate medications in medication related fall in geriatric population. To identify and to prepare a report about the drugs causing fall.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in general medicine, cardiology, orthopedics and surgery department of a tertiary care hospital. The study included both male and female patient aged above 65 years taking fall risk increasing drugs as past medications. The study population included 109 patients. The documented data were analyzed by statistical, graphical method.
Result and Discussion: The study showed that fall risk increasing drugs is a major risk for falls. Demographic and clinical data was collected and medication reviewed using John Hopkins fall risk assessment tool and STOPP criteria. The mean age of patients were 73 years. Most significant risk of fall was found in cardiovascular and antihypertensive drugs. Other major risk factors in elderly are age, female gender, fall history, poly pharmacy. Potentially inappropriate medication was found to be a contributing factor for falls in elderly.
Conclusion: The study has clearly demonstrated that fall risk increasing drugs and potentially inappropriate medication increases the risk of fall in geriatric population. This study helped to identify the risk factors leading to fall in geriatric population like age, gender, poly pharmacy. Female gender, fall history, use of patient care equipment, limited mobility, altered cognition.