@article{ref1,
title="A delicate balance: psychotropic polypharmacy and anti-cholinergic use are correlated with fall incidence in Australian inpatients with dementia",
journal="Aging medicine (Milton (N.S.W))",
year="2021",
author="Tan, Samuel X. and Cameron, Sarah C. and Sam, Lit Min and Eigeland, Hugh and Hay, Karen and Eeles, Eamonn and Natarajan, Kannan",
volume="4",
number="3",
pages="193-200",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Persons with dementia commonly experience a range of behavioural and psychological symptoms, including agitation, aggression, perceptual disturbances, and depression. While psychotropic medications are regularly prescribed to mitigate these symptoms, these agents also carry a broad adverse effect profile. This study aimed to characterize psychotropic medication use in patients with dementia, as well as identify prescribing factors associated with falls in this cohort. <br><br>METHODS: This retrospective study collected longitudinal demographic and medication data from all patients admitted to a neuro-cognitive unit at an Australian metropolitan hospital over a 2-year period. Psychotropic polypharmacy and psychotropic agent use per patient-fortnight were investigated for their association with inpatient falls. <br><br>RESULTS: All patients (n = 147) were prescribed at least one psychotropic medication, with 96% receiving anti-psychotic medications and 90% receiving benzodiazepines. Patient fall rate was significantly associated with anticholinergic drug use (Incidence rate ratio: 2.2; P < .001), as well as concomitant use of ≥5 daily psychotropic agents (Incidence rate ratio: 3.1; P = .001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Patients with dementia are routinely prescribed a wide variety of psychotropic medications. Use of anticholinergic drugs and psychotropic polypharmacy are correlated with fall incidence in persons with dementia.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2475-0360",
doi="10.1002/agm2.12175",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agm2.12175"
}