Psychoactive medication, alcohol use, and falls among older adults

• Published in: Journal of behavioral medicine Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 127 - 140
• Main Authors: SHEAHAN, S. L, COONS, S. J, ROBBINS, C. A, MARTIN, S. S, HENDRICKS, J, LATIMER, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-04-1995
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Accidents; Aged; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Use; Analgesics - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Interactions; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Elderly; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives - adverse effects; Independent Living; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Medications; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychotropic Drugs - adverse effects; Toxicity: nervous system and muscle; Tranquilizing Agents - adverse effects; United States of America; United States; North America; America; Human; Prevalence; Psychotropic; Toxicity; Personal injury; Alcoholism; Risk factor; Fall; Epidemiology; Elderly
• ISSN: 0160-7715; 1573-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01857865

The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) the prevalence of psychoactive medication and alcohol use and (2) the relationship among psychoactive medications, alcohol use, and falls in a sample of 1028 independently living women and men, aged 55 and older. Twenty-six percent of the sample reported falling, 28% were taking one or more psychoactive drugs, and 38% drank alcohol during the past year. Analyses with logistic regression indicate that predictors of falls were psychoactive drug use, age, and number of illnesses. Living alone, frequency of alcohol use, and gender were not significant predictors.