The study used data on prescription fills among Americans 65 and older from the National Vital Statistics System and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
The study also found that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled from 1999 to 2017. The CDC says that nearly $50 billion is spent each year on medical costs related to fall injuries among older adults.
“Our study indicates two trends increasing concurrently at a population level that should be examined at the individual level,” Amy Shaver, PhD, one of the study’s authors, said in a March 17 new release. “Our hope is it will start more conversations on health care teams about the pros and cons of medications prescribed for vulnerable populations.”
Drugs that increase the risk of falling include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, opioids, sedative hypnotics and benzodiazepines.
More articles on pharmacy:
New York City pharmacist starts pop-up COVID-19 vaccination sites
Moderna studying COVID-19 vaccine’s use in children, refrigerator-safe vaccine
CDC: Most people return for second COVID-19 vaccine dose
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
