Poor adherence to medications may be associated with falls

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Poor medication adherence is a significant issue in older adults, contributing to adverse health outcomes.
• The MOBILIZE Boston study investigated novel risk factors for falls in a community-based cohort.
• This research specifically examined the relationship between medication adherence and fall rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if poor medication adherence increases the rate of falls in older adults.
• To quantify the association between medication adherence levels and fall occurrences.
• To identify medication adherence as a potential modifiable risk factor for falls in the elderly.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 246 men and 408 women (mean age 78 years) with a median follow-up of 1.8 years.
• Medication adherence was assessed using the Morisky scale, defining low adherence as answering 'yes' to one or more questions about forgetting or altering medication.
• Statistical analysis adjusted for multiple covariates including age, sex, cognitive function, and number of medications.

Main Results:

• 48% of participants exhibited low medication adherence.
• The rate of falls was significantly higher in the low adherence group (1.1 falls/person-year) compared to the high adherence group (0.7 falls/person-year).
• After multivariable adjustment, low medication adherence was associated with a 50% increased rate of falls (rate ratio = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9).

Conclusions:

• Low medication adherence is associated with an increased rate of falls among older adults.
• This finding suggests that medication adherence is a critical factor in fall prevention strategies for the elderly.
• Further research is warranted to confirm this association and to evaluate interventions aimed at improving medication adherence to reduce fall frequency.