TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - Polypharmacy as a risk for fall occurrence in geriatric outpatients
JO  - Geriatrics and gerontology international
A1  - Kojima, Taro
A1  - Akishita, Masahiro
A1  - Nakamura, Tetsuro
A1  - Nomura, Kazushi
A1  - Ogawa, Sumito
A1  - Iijima, Katsuya
A1  - Eto, Masato
A1  - Ouchi, Yasuyoshi
SP  - 425
EP  - 430
VL  - 12
IS  - 3
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1444-1586
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2011.00783.x
ID  - ref1
ER  -