Introduction - Geriatric Falls in Nursing Homes

Over 40% of nursing home residents experience at least one fall each year (1). A fall is generally defined as ‘an event that leads to a person coming to rest on the ground or other lower level’ (2). Indeed, falls and falls related injuries such as neck of femur fractures are leading problems in residential aged care facilities (3) and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality (1, 2) alongside significant carer and patient anxiety about future falls (4). Falls can also threaten the independence of older people and may be responsible for an individual’s loss of independence and socioeconomic consequences (5). There are a variety of risk factors associated with falls in elderly patients including previous history of falls, altered gait due to physical health pathology, higher rates of dependency, cognitive impairment, psychoactive medication use and excessive physical activity (6).

Psychoactive Prescribing - a modifiable falls risk factor?

There is increasing awareness of the relationship that psychoactive prescribing may have upon residents’ risk of falls, which is seen as a potentially modifiable risk factor. Psychoactive medications are defined as agents that affect mood, perception, cognition, behavior, or consciousness as a result of changes in the functioning of the central nervous system (3). In 2016 an observational study of over 2000 nursing home residents reported a 3-fold increase in fall incidence in residents receiving scheduled doses of psychotropic medications, with increased risk even for patient receiving medications on an as required basis (7). The relationship between falls and psychoactive prescribing is particularly important as older people are commonly prescribed medications with psychoactive properties (3). Indeed, Guthrie et al showed that patients with dementia in Scotland have a 17% chance of being prescribed one or more psychoactive medications (including antipsychotics, antidepressants and hypnotic/anxiolytics) (8). More broadly, a study analyzing nursing home psychoactive prescribing in 12 European countries reported rates of antipsychotic prescribing of between 12% to 59% and antidepressant prescribing of 19% to 68% (9).

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms & Psychoactive Prescribing in Nursing Home Residents

A significant reason for the high rates of psychoactive prescribing in this patient group is that patients in nursing homes are generally frail, multimorbid and experience neuropsychiatric symptoms at significant rates. A systematic review, indicated that 82% of residents of nursing homes exhibited at least one neuropsychiatric symptoms, with agitation and apathy being most prevalent (10). The prevalence of specific behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) was the focus of a recent systematic review, which reported rates of specific symptoms low prevalence (4% for elation and mania) to higher prevalence (32% for apathy) with varying symptoms identified depending on dementia sub-type (11). The authors reported that apathy, depression, anxiety, irritability, agitation and aggression were common individual BPSD symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and depression and agitation and aggression were common in patients with. multi-infarct dementia (11). This review focused upon community-dwelling adults with dementia, with rates known to be significantly higher in patients in long-term care (12).

These symptoms affect both the quality of life of residents and the work-load of nursing staff (13). Guidelines routinely suggest non-pharmacological interventions as the first-line therapy for neuropsychiatric symptoms, due to the side effect profile of these medications, but there is a significant gap between guideline recommendations and practice within nursing homes (14). The prescribing of psychotropic agents is primarily to relive symptomatic distress associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms which can be significant for patients, staff and carers. Furthermore, there have been well documented challenges to delivering effective non-drug strategies to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms in long term care facilities (15).

However, despite good intentions research suggests that only 10% of psychotropic drug prescriptions for neuropsychiatric symptoms are fully appropriate for residents with dementia, in terms of indication, evaluation, dosage, drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, duplications, and therapy duration (16). The use of psychoactive medications, particularly antipsychotic medications, are associated with an increased risk of mortality, hip fractures and falls, thrombotic and cardiovascular events, cognitive decline and hospitalizations (17–19). Among adverse reactions secondary to psychotropic medications falls are particularly feared, due to falls being a major predictor of admission to hospital, and functional dependence (20).

Psychoactive Prescribing & Falls

Balance and gait require coordination between numerous body systems and organs, with the nervous system involved at all levels. Psychoactive prescribing is an important culprit in impairing the process of coordination. There has been extensive work looking more deeply at the relationship between psychoactive prescribing and falls. A Spanish study utilized data from 4502 residents living in 41 nursing homes belonging to a Spanish nursing home chain, where there were a total of 490 falls over the one month study period (21). Two-thirds of the study population were prescribed psychotropic medications, with the paper reporting increased risk of injurious falls with typical neuroleptics, atypical neuroleptics and long half life benzodiazepines with odds rations ranging from 1.42 – 2.57 respectively (21). Furthermore, a Dutch study of 1,415 residents, with a combined number of 698,567 patient-days and 3,879 fall incidents reported the risk of falling appeared to increase with the use of both typical and atypical antipsychotics, hypnotics and sedatives, antidepressants and anxiolytics, with adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) varying between 1.39 and 1.73 (22). Of particular interest was the isolation of higher risk medications with links to falls including: Zolpidem (aHR 2.35), melatonin (aHR 1.97), quetiapine (aHR 1.99), temazepam (aHR 1.96), zopiclone (aHR 1.81) and haloperidol (aHR 1.54). Although there is evidence that some medications are associated with higher risk which is clinically useful, it is not the case that preferential prescribing of short-acting benzodiazepines instead of long-acting agents or atypical neuroleptics rather than typical neuroleptics will substantially decrease fall risk associated with the use of these medications (23).

A Paradox - Mitigating Falls Risk and Managing BPSD

How can we manage the paradox between the high burden of neuropsychiatric symptoms and adverse drug reactions associated with medications prescribed to alleviate symptoms?

Firstly, we have a duty to utilize non-drug approaches to neuropsychiatric symptoms and support the provision of these wherever possible. Systematic reviews have identified a wide array of different approaches to mitigate BPSD including specific indirect interventions (e.g., professional development of staff, light focused) to specific direct interventions (e.g., art and theatre, animal based) (24, 25). The effectiveness of these interventions vary extensively between studies, highlighting that focused reviews of different specific nursing home contexts which may account for the successes, failures or partial successes of the interventions. At present there are no specific approach which is recommended, but promoting a caring environment for residents, individualization of care for residents to promote patient centered care and education for staff regarding BPSD management are all pertinent themes for the long-term care industry (24). Furthermore, time spent developing therapeutic relationships between care providers, the care recipients and the family members can be another way to promote meaning and purpose for patients with dementia in long term care facilities.

Secondly, it is pertinent to consider the reasons why psychotropic prescribing rates are high relative to their effectiveness. These may include physician and nurse attitudes to neuropsychiatric and psychotropic drugs and pressure placed on clinicians to prescribe these medications (26). Symptoms of BPSD can be very distressing to nursing home staff and family members, and often stimulate an urgent need to ‘do something’, which can make it difficult to have a nuanced discussion about side effect profiles. This conversation regarding risks of medication prescribing is vital to make an informed choice, with Dutch research reporting that almost 50% of family members feel poorly informed about the side effects of prescribed psychotropic medications (27). More broadly, care providers knowledge or experience of neuropsychiatric syndromes, the interpersonal skills of nurses, communication or cooperation between professionals and with family members, alongside external factors (e.g., staffing, accessibility to medical support, funding streams and local policies) all may play a role in higher rates of psychoactive prescribing (28). The provision of educational support, time to deliver nursing home medication reviews and financial incentives for particular prescribing outcomes may all facilitate safer psychoactive prescribing.

Thirdly, involvement of a clinical pharmacist within primary care teams to support decision making around psychoactive prescribing has been advocated an approach to support clinicians appropriately start medications, review and stop medications (29–31). The support of pharmacists may enable general practitioners, especially for particularly complex cases, decide on appropriate psychoactive prescribing, identify key risk factors to discuss with family members alongside likelihood of benefit and arrange appropriate review after medications are started. However, even with the support of pharmacy teams, careful consideration should be given before psychotropic polypharmacy is implemented (i.e. ≥3 psychotropics), possibly with early involvement of psychogeriatric team members / dementia liaison teams if this is required (32). Presently it is difficult to be definitive about the nature of the impact of pharmacy interventions for long-term care facility prescribing, with the limited evidence to date relating more to methodological factors rather than true lack of efficacy (33, 34). Further research is strongly advocated for with standardization of key outcome measures. Integration of pharmacy teams, alongside other health professionals, is becoming an important component of primary care reform in Scotland to support general practitioners.

Conclusion

Psychiatric conditions and symptoms are common in older age, and even more so in long term care facilities, and this is reflected by the high rates of psychoactive prescribing. There are significant challenges providing appropriate, rationalized and effective psychoactive prescribing for patients, and evidence to date suggest that patients are experiencing significant harm due to the over-use of these agents. Falls in particular are associated with significant mortality and morbidity in long-term care, and are significantly more common in those receiving psychoactive medications.

A multifactorial approach is required, which should include the use of non-drug approaches to mitigate symptoms of BPSD, time and education for clinicians to review prescribing practices and the development of multidisciplinary teams for prescribing and polypharmacy reviews which include clinical pharmacists. This collaborative approach will need investment and support of policy-makers, but ultimately facilitates challenging decision-making that can improve patient care.

Key Points

  • Falls in nursing home residents are common, with a variety of non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors identified.

  • Psychoactive prescribing is common in nursing home residents, with a variety of side effects including increased all-cause mortality, hip fractures, cardiovascular events and hospitalizations.

  • Although psychoactive prescribing has a role in appropriately selected patients, the risk of harm must be considered.

  • A multifactorial approach is required to address this clinical challenge, which should include the use of non-drug approaches to mitigate symptoms of BPSD, time and education for clinicians to review prescribing practices and the development of multidisciplinary teams which include clinical pharmacists.