@article{ref1,
title="Use of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics is associated with falls in nursing home residents: a longitudinal cohort study",
journal="Aging clinical and experimental research",
year="2019",
author="Westerlind, Björn and Östgren, Carl Johan and Mölstad, Sigvard and Midlöv, Patrik and Hägg, Staffan",
volume="31",
number="8",
pages="1087-1095",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Falls and related injuries are common among older people, and several drug classes are considered to increase fall risk. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of certain drug classes and falls in older nursing home residents in Sweden, and relate these to different age groups. <br><br>METHODS: Information on falls that occurred in the previous year and regular use of possible fall risk drugs including non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (zopiclone and zolpidem) was collected from 331 nursing home residents during 2008-2011. Over the following 6 months, the occurrence of serious falls, requiring a physician visit or hospital care, was registered. Association between serious falls and drug use was compared between an older (≥ 85 years) and a younger group. <br><br>RESULTS: An increased fall risk (Downton Fall Risk Index ≥ 3) was found in 93% of the study subjects (aged 65-101 years). Baseline data indicated an association between falls that occurred in the previous year and regular use of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (p = 0.005), but not with the other studied drug classes. During the following 6 months, an association between use of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and serious falls in the older group (p = 0.017, odds ratio 4.311) was found. No association was found between the other studied drug classes and serious falls. <br><br>DISCUSSION: These results indicate an association between falls and the use of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, compounds that previously have been considered generally well-tolerated in older people. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Caution is advocated when using non-benzodiazepine hypnotics regularly in older people living in nursing homes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1594-0667",
doi="10.1007/s40520-018-1056-0",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1056-0"
}