Potentially Inappropriate Medications are Associated With Geriatric Trauma Recidivism

The American Geriatric Society has identified polypharmacy and categories of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) that should be avoided in the elderly. These medications can potentially cause an increased risk of falls and traumatic events.

We conducted a retrospective study on elderly patients with traumatic injuries at a Level 1 trauma center. We compared patients having only one traumatic event and those with one or more traumatic events with the presence of prescriptions for PIMs.

Identified high risk categories of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.28), psychiatric and neurologic agents (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.22-1.43), as well as medication with anticholinergic properties (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27) were associated with an increased risk of recurrent trauma.

We can quantify the risk of recurrent trauma with certain categories of PIM. Medication reconciliation and shared decision-making regarding the continued use of these medications may positively impact trauma recidivism.