Effectiveness of Stopping Fall-Risk Increasing Drugs in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Hartholt Klaas A, Boyé Nicole DA, Van der Velde Nathalie, Van Lieshout Esther MM, Polinder Suzanne, De Vries Oscar J, Kerver Albert JH, Ziere Gijsbertus, Bruijninckx Milko MM, De Vries Mark R, Mattace-Raso Francesco US, Uitterlinden André G, Van Beeck Ed F, Lips Paul, Patka Peter, Van der Cammen Tischa JM
Primary Institution: Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam
Hypothesis
Does the withdrawal of fall-risk increasing drugs reduce the incidence of falls in older adults compared to usual care?
Conclusion
The study aims to determine if stopping fall-risk increasing drugs can help reduce falls in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Falls are a major public health issue for older adults, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.
- Approximately 72,000 older adults in the Netherlands visit the Emergency Department each year due to falls.
- Withdrawal of fall-risk increasing drugs has been shown to potentially reduce fall risk.
Takeaway
This study is trying to find out if stopping certain medications can help older people not fall down as much.
Methodology
A multicenter randomized controlled trial with a one-year follow-up, comparing medication withdrawal to usual care in older adults visiting the Emergency Department after a fall.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the inability to blind participants and healthcare providers to treatment allocation.
Limitations
The study may face challenges in patient adherence to the new medication regimen and potential difficulties in achieving complete withdrawal of medications.
Participant Demographics
Participants are older adults aged 65 and over who have visited the Emergency Department due to a fall.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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