Table 4

Risk of Fall in Occasional and Regular Users of Inappropriate Medication compared to Never Users

≤ 1 fall

≥ 2 falls

Medication n (%)

(N = 4961)

(N = 1382)

OR (95% CI)

crude P-Value

OR (95% CI)*†

P-Value†

Inappropriate medication full list

Occasional user‡

809 (16)

277 (20)

1.48 (1.26–1.74)

<.001

1.23 (1.04–1.45)

.016

Regular user §

1389 (28)

465 (34)

1.45 (1.26–1.66)

<.001

1.08 (0.94–1.25)

.29

Inappropriate medication without cerebral vasodilators

Occasional user

704 (14)

239 (17)

1.38 (1.17–1.63)

<.001

1.22 (1.02–1.45)

.030

Regular user

826 (17)

300 (22)

1.48 (1.27–1.72)

<.001

1.19 (1.00–1.41)

.049

Long-acting benzodiazepines

Occasional user

286 (9)

117 (13)

1.58 (1.26–1.98)

<.001

1.40 (1.10–1.79)

.006

Regular user

316 (9)

135 (15)

1.65 (1.33–2.04)

<.001

1.41 (1.12–1.79)

.004

Inappropriate psychotropic drugs

Occasional user

102 (2)

37 (3)

1.33 (0.91–1.95)

.14

1.17 (0.74–1.83)

.50

Regular user

74 (1)

39 (3)

1.93 (1.30–2.86)

.001

1.74 (1.14–2.66)

.010

Inappropriate medication with anticholinergic properties

Occasional user

264 (5)

91 (7)

1.29 (1.01–1.65)

.042

1.21 (0.93–1.58)

.15

Regular user

172 (3)

84 (6)

1.83 (1.40–2.40)

<.001

1.57 (1.18–2.10)

.002

Short- or intermediate-half-life benzodiazepines

Occasional user

429 (9)

151 (11)

1.34 (1.10–1.63)

.004

1.20 (0.96–1.49)

.11

Regular user

441 (9)

153 (11)

1.32 (1.08–1.60)

.006

1.05 (0.83–1.32)

.69

* Reference group: Never user of inappropriate medication

‡ Occasional user: exposure at only one of the 3 examinations (baseline and 2 follow-up)

§Regular user: exposure at two or three examinations

† Adjusted for age, sex, study centre, Body Mass Index, diurnal drowsiness, number of drugs (excluding IM), cognitive functioning, depressive symptoms and impaired mobility.

Berdot et al. BMC Geriatrics 2009 9:30   doi:10.1186/1471-2318-9-30