The synergistic effect of anticholinergic burden and depression on fall risk in older persons

Both anticholinergic burden (ACB) and depression are known to increase fall risk in older persons, next to increasing morbidity and mortality. However, the effect of depression on fall risk associated with ACB is unclear. This is relevant because several antidepressants have anticholinergic effects to some extent. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between ACB and falls, and the impact of depression on this relationship.

We cross-sectionally examined the relationship between both ACB and clinical depression and falls in the past 12 months, in a harmonized cohort of Dutch community dwelling persons (n = 7884). For all analyses, we calculated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). We also investigated the impact of depression on the relationship between ACB and falls, by calculating their interaction on both an additive and multiplicative scale.

Both a high ACB score (≥3) and clinical depression were independently significantly associated with falls in the past 12 months. Additionally, there was a statistically significant interaction (P = 0.038) between ACB and clinical depression on fall risk, both on an additive and multiplicative scale (1.13 and 1.44 respectively).

In older persons, the presence of clinical depression strengthened the association between ACB and falls. We discourage withholding pharmacological treatment to avoid falls, despite the ACB of antidepressants. In the case of depression, we recommend considering non-pharmacological alternatives; choose pharmacological interventions with the lowest risk of adverse events; assess and treat other fall risk factors; and perform multidisciplinary medication review to minimize (accumulation of) ACB.