[Drugs and short losses of consciousness in the elderly. A case/control study]

To study the possible role of multiple medications and different types of drugs prescribed to the elderly as a risk factor for short-term loss of consciousness, we compared the drug consumption by 188 patients (65 and over) hospitalized for short-term loss of consciousness to that by 188 controls (65 and over) taken from the general population. The two groups were age- and sex-matched. We took into consideration the evolution of drug consumption due to the time-lag between the two studies. There was no significant difference between the mean number of drugs taken per group. Beta-blocker and anti-angina drug usage was significantly increased in the patient group. For diuretics, tranquilizers and anti-depressants, a large difference was noted but it was not significant. Use of vasodilators, hypnotic drugs and antihypertensive agents was similar in both groups. We discuss the possible lack of statistical potency for several drugs and the fact that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the respective roles of certain medications and the underlying disease in the etiology of the loss of consciousness.