Appropriateness of Antiplatelets and Anticoagulants Among Older Adults Experiencing Falls

Antiplatelet and anticoagulant (collectively called antithrombotics) use remains ubiquitous in older adults due to well-established benefits in treating atherosclerotic and thromboembolic disease. It is unclear whether these benefits outweigh the risk of traumatic hemorrhage in older adults with elevated fall risk. Emergency department (ED) providers are well-positioned to identify opportunities to deprescribe likely inappropriate antithrombotics following an emergency visit for a fall. The objective was to determine the prevalence of likely inappropriate antithrombotic use among older adults on antithrombotics presenting to an ED with a fall.

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of older adults presenting to an ED with a fall enrolled from 2020 to 2021 in a pharmacist-led medication reconciliation program at a southeastern academic ED. We utilized the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) to assess antithrombotic appropriateness, categorized: appropriate (MAI = 0), potentially inappropriate (MAI = 1-2), and likely inappropriate (MAI ≥ 3).

171 out of 514 enrolled patients who presented with a fall to the ED were on an antithrombotic. Their mean age was 81.2 years (std dev 9.2) and 66.1% were female (113/171; 95% CI: 58.6%-72.8%). The median MAI score was 2 (IQR: 2-4). Potentially inappropriate or likely inappropriate use was observed in 82.5% (141/171; 95% CI: 76.0%-87.5%) of participants. Aspirin had the highest prevalence of likely inappropriate use at 60% (59/98; 95% CI: 50%-69%), while P2Y12 inhibitors, warfarin, and direct oral anticoagulants had prevalence of likely inappropriate use at 53% (8/15; 95% CI: 27%-78%), 30% (3/10; 95% CI: 8%-67%), and 29% (21/72; 95% CI: 20%-41%), respectively.

There was a high prevalence of likely inappropriate antithrombotic use among older adults presenting to the ED with a fall. While aspirin had the highest rate of likely inappropriate use, all antithrombotics had 30% or greater rates of likely inappropriate use. An ED encounter presents a critical opportunity to evaluate the appropriateness of antithrombotic use in patients who have fallen.