@article{ref1,
title="Polypharmacy as a risk for fall occurrence in geriatric outpatients",
journal="Geriatrics and gerontology international",
year="2012",
author="Kojima, Taro and Akishita, Masahiro and Nakamura, Tetsuro and Nomura, Kazushi and Ogawa, Sumito and Iijima, Katsuya and Eto, Masato and Ouchi, Yasuyoshi",
volume="12",
number="3",
pages="425-430",
abstract="Objective:  To investigate the predictors of falls, such as comorbidity and medication, in geriatric outpatients in a longitudinal observational study. Methods:  A total of 172 outpatients (45 men and 126 women, mean age 76.9 ± 7.0 years) were evaluated. Physical examination, clinical history and medication profile were obtained from each patient at baseline. These patients were followed for up to 2 years and falls were self-reported to their physicians. The factors associated with falls were analyzed statistically. Results:  A total of 32 patients experienced falls within 2 years. On univariate analysis, older age, osteoporosis, number of comorbid conditions and number of drugs were significantly associated with falls within 2 years. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the number of drugs was associated with falls, independent of age, sex, number of comorbid conditions and other factors that were significantly associated in univariate analysis. A receiver-operator curve evaluating the optimal cut-off value for the number of drugs showed that taking five or more drugs was a significant risk. Conclusion:  In geriatric outpatients, polypharmacy is associated with falls. Intervention studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship between polypharmacy, comorbidity and falls.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1444-1586",
doi="10.1111/j.1447-0594.2011.00783.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2011.00783.x"
}