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Falls - risk assessment - Evidence
Evidence on medication as a risk factor for falls
CKS identified no good quality systematic reviews or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of medication as a risk factor for falls.
- A review (of 28 observational studies and one RCT) reported individual study results but was unable to pool the data; conclusions could not be drawn.
- Benzodiazepines were associated with falls or fall-related fractures in 17 studies, but no association was found in three studies.
- Antidepressants were associated with falls or fractures in 12 studies, but no association was found in five studies.
- The odds ratio for hip fracture 2 weeks after a new prescription for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was 6.30 (95% CI 2.65 to 14.97) and for tricyclic antidepressants 4.76 (95% CI 3.06 to 7.41).
- Antipsychotic drugs as a group were associated with increased risk of falls or fractures (no data given).
[Hartikainen et al, 2007]
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