Risk of Injury in Older Adults Using Gastrointestinal Antispasmodic and Anticholinergic Medications

To determine the risk of injury associated with gastrointestinal (GI) antispasmodic and anticholinergic use in elderly adults.

Retrospective case-control study.

Integrated healthcare system.

Healthcare system members aged 65 and older (N = 260,010; 54,152 cases, 205,858 controls).

Cases were identified as individuals with an injury resulting in a hospitalization, emergency department, or urgent care visit (index date) from January 2009 through December 2010. Cases and controls were matched in a 1:4 ratio based on age and sex. GI antispasmodic and anticholinergic current and past exposure for cases and controls was evaluated. Individuals were classified as current users if the days' supply of the GI prescription overlapped the index date and past users if the days' supply ended more than 60 days before the index date. Duration of use for current users was analyzed for short- and long-term use. Conditional logistic regression produced adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Of the total population, 1,068 (0.4%) had current exposure to a GI antispasmodic or anticholinergic (302 (0.6%) cases, 766 (0.4%) controls). Current users had a small but significantly greater risk of injury than nonusers (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.01-1.34, P = .03). Past use was not significantly different from no use. Short-term users had a significantly greater risk of injury (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.01-1.70, P = .04) than nonusers. Long-term use was associated with greater risk, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Older adults using GI antispasmodic and anticholinergic drugs have greater risk of injury. These findings support recommendations to limit the prescribing of GI antispasmodics and anticholinergics in elderly adults.