INDIA New England News
New York– The percentage of adults, 65 and older, who were prescribed a ‘fall- risk-increasing’ drug climbed to 94 per cent in 2017, a significant leap from 57 per cent in 1999, suggests a study.
The study, published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, also revealed that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time period.
“Our study indicates two trends increasing concurrently at a population level that should be examined at the individual level. Our hope is it will start more conversations on health care teams about the pros and cons of medications prescribed for vulnerable populations,” said researcher Amy Shaver from the University at Buffalo.
Drugs for US older adults linked to falling risks
By IANS |
Published on
Wed, Mar 17 2021 18:21 IST |
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Drugs. . Image Source: IANS News
New York, March 17 : The percentage of adults, 65 and older, who were prescribed a fall- risk-increasing drug climbed to 94 per cent in 2017, a significant leap from 57 per cent in 1999, suggests a study.
The study, published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, also revealed that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time period. Our study indicates two trends increasing concurrently at a population level that should be examined at the individual level. Our hope is it will start more conversations on health care teams about the pros and cons of medications prescribed for vulnerable populations, said researcher Amy Shaver from the University at Buffalo.
Study: 94% of older adults prescribed fall-risk-increasing drugs
Nearly every older adult was prescribed a prescription drug that increased their risk of falling in 2017, according to new University at Buffalo research.
The study found that the percentage of adults 65 and older who were prescribed a fall- risk-increasing drug climbed to 94% in 2017, a significant leap from 57% in 1999. The research also revealed that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time period.
Even minor falls may be dangerous for older adults. Falls that are not fatal can still result in injuries - such as hip fractures and head traumas - that may drastically lower remaining quality of life. Each year, nearly $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to fall injuries among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - Nearly every older adult was prescribed a prescription drug that increased their risk of falling in 2017, according to new University at Buffalo research.
The study found that the percentage of adults 65 and older who were prescribed a fall- risk-increasing drug climbed to 94% in 2017, a significant leap from 57% in 1999. The research also revealed that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time period.
Even minor falls may be dangerous for older adults. Falls that are not fatal can still result in injuries - such as hip fractures and head traumas - that may drastically lower remaining quality of life. Each year, nearly $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to fall injuries among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The percentage of US adults 65 and older who received a prescription for a drug that increased their risk of falling rose to 94% in 2017 a significant leap from 57% in 1999, researchers report.
The research also shows that the rate of fall-caused deaths in older adults more than doubled during the same time period.
Even minor falls may be dangerous for older adults. Falls that are not fatal can still result in injuries such as hip fractures and head traumas that may drastically lower remaining quality of life. Each year, nearly $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to fall injuries among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.