High rate of potentially inappropriate medication use in older people: a case-control study

Annually, 172 million fall events cause temporary or permanent impairment in older adults, and this number is increasing. Contributing factors that increase the risk for falls include age, polypharmacy, and malnutrition. This study evaluated medications mainly included in the EU(7)-PIM (potentially inappropriate medication) list. From March 21, 2022, to July 6, 2022, 945 patients who experienced a fall and visited the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre of the University of Szeged in Hungary. Data from 886 patients were collected (study group). The control group included 1364 patient data collected from three general practice in Hungary. The use of ≥ 2 EU(7)-PIM drugs was found to be associated with increased risk for falls (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.88). Piracetam (AOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.28-2.57) and trimetazidine (AOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.17-2.24) were associated with increased risk for falls. Doxazosin was associated with a low risk for falls (AOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.41-0.86). Tiapride (AOR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.75-7.17), gliclazide (AOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02-2.43), and vinpocetine (AOR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.29-2.95) are not included in the EU(7)-PIM list; however, they are associated with increased risk for falls. Long-acting benzodiazepines (AOR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.20-2.68), antidepressants (AOR, 1.89; 95% 95% CI, 1.37-2.61), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (AOR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.41-5.67; p < 0.01), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (AOR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.24-2.85) were also associated with increased risk for falls. However, Z-drugs were associated with a low risk for falls (AOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36-0.92). With the help of this tool, trimetazidine and piracetam are filtered as EU(7)-PIM drugs associated with increased risk for falls.