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Fall-Related Medications and Fall Risk as Predictors of Fall-Related Hospitalization Among Community-Dwelling Older
Tamara Alibrahim1, Yvonne Johnston2
1Sonostics, Inc., Endicott, New York.
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Fall risk and specific medication scores predict hospitalizations in older adults. While both factors are significant, fall risk alone is a strong predictor, suggesting a need for comprehensive assessment tools.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Falls are a major health concern for community-dwelling older adults.
- Identifying predictors of fall-related hospitalizations is crucial for preventive strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fall risk and fall-related medications as predictors of fall-related hospitalizations.
- To analyze the interaction between fall risk and medication scores in predicting hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 8,499 older adults from primary care practices.
- Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations.
Main Results:
- Fall risk and Fall Risk Medication Score (FRMS) were significantly associated with hospitalizations.
- Older adults with fall risk were 1.7 to 2.3 times more likely to have higher FRMS.
- The interaction between fall risk and FRMS predicted hospitalizations, but FRMS did not improve the model over fall risk alone.
Conclusions:
- Fall risk is a significant predictor of fall-related hospitalizations in older adults.
- Current assessment tools could be enhanced by incorporating comprehensive factors and significant endpoints like hospitalizations.
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