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Medication-Related Falls in Older People pp 171–177Cite as

Inappropriate Medications and Risk of Falls in Older Adults

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Abstract

Among older adults, potentially inappropriate medications have been associated with an increased risk of falls and hip fractures (a proxy measure for serious falls). In addition to the medications listed in other chapters in this book, skeletal muscle relaxants (SMR), antiepileptic drugs (AED), opioids, and combinations of medications affecting the central nervous system (CNS) have been shown to increase the risk of serious falls. Moreover, this increased risk is even more pronounced among older adults with a previous history of falls and hip fractures. This chapter will summarize literature highlighting the specific risks of these medications, with an emphasis on rigorously designed observational studies.

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Abbreviations

AED:

Antiepileptic drug

ARR:

Adjusted risk ratio

AOR:

Adjusted odds ratio

CI:

Confidence interval

CNS:

Central nervous system

CYP:

Cytochrome P450

IRR:

Incident risk ratio

NCQA:

National Committee for Quality Assurance

OR:

Odds ratio

PIM:

Potentially inappropriate medications

RR:

Relative risk

SMR:

Skeletal muscle relaxants

US:

United States

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, Kaufmann Medical Building, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Jennifer Greene Naples PharmD, Joseph T. Hanlon MS, PharmD & Susan L. Greenspan MD

  2. Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Salk Hall, Room 727, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Christine M. Ruby PharmD, BCPS

Authors
  1. Jennifer Greene Naples PharmD
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  2. Joseph T. Hanlon MS, PharmD
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  3. Christine M. Ruby PharmD, BCPS
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  4. Susan L. Greenspan MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Greene Naples PharmD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital, Head, Division of Geriatric Medicine University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hosp, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Allen R. Huang

  2. Head, Faculty of Pharmacy Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Louise Mallet

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Naples, J.G., Hanlon, J.T., Ruby, C.M., Greenspan, S.L. (2016). Inappropriate Medications and Risk of Falls in Older Adults. In: Huang, A., Mallet, L. (eds) Medication-Related Falls in Older People. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32304-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32304-6_14

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  • Publisher Name: Adis, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32302-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32304-6

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