143 Medications Related Fall Incidents among Older Adults at a Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Abstract Background The drugs prescribed for hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and mental disorders affects patients’ mental and postural stability, and ends up in fall related incidents in over 60% cases. Hence, a study was aimed to review the drugs prescribed in older patients with at-least one episode of fall incidents. Method A retrospective study was carried out at a 1000 bedded teaching hospital using electronic big data system to record patients’ information. Results Out of 135 patients who had fall incident(s) during the study period, 69 were male and 66 were female. Majority (n=77; 57%) of the patients were older than 60 years of age and have had at least one co-morbid conditions. Most of the fall incidents have occurred during their inpatient period and at the time of using toilets (67%) and at bedside (22%). Around 42% of the fall incidents were moderate to severe and sadly one patient died due to large subdural hematoma and intra-parenchymal bleeding secondary to fall. Corticosteroids (36%), diuretics (27%), antihypertensives (26%), antidiabetics (25%) and other class of drugs (45%) were commonly prescribed in the patients; and these drugs were given either alone or in combination with other drugs. These drugs have high impact on fall incidents as it may lower the blood volume, blood pressure and blood sugar; it may in turn cause postural instability. Most of the fall incidents where noticed in patients who had diuretics plus antihypertensives (26%), antihypertensives plus antidiabetics (22%), antihypertensives plus antidiabetics plus antihyperlipidemic agents (18%) and corticosteroids (15%) concurrently and at irregular dosing interval. Conclusion Regular monitoring of prescription drugs and its complications are of at most important to prevent future fall related incidents. Hence, an efficient and continuous medication review is warranted in an emergency basis to make the drugs safer to the patients.