Abstract
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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blake, A. J., Morgan, K., Bendall, M. J., Dallosso, H., Ebrahim, S. B. J., et al. (1988). Falls by elderly people at home: Prevalence and associated factors.Age Aging 17: 365–372.
Campbell, A. J. (1991). Drug treatment as a cause of falls in old age.Drugs Aging 1(4): 289–302.
Campbell, A. J., Reinllen, J., Allan, B. C., and Martinez, G. S. (1981). Falls in old age: A study of frequency and related clinical features.Age Aging 10: 264–270.
Campbell, A. J., Borrie, M. J., and Spears, G. F. (1989). Risk factors for falls in a community-based prospective study of people 70 years and older.J. Gerontol. 44: M112-M117.
Campbell, A. J., Borrie, M. J., Spears, G. F., Jackson, S. L., Brown, J. S., and Fitzgerald, J. L. (1990). Circumstances and consequences of falls experienced by a community population 70 years and over during a prospective study.Age Aging 19: 136–141.
Chrischilles, E., Lemke, J., Wallace, R., and Drube, G. (1990). Prevalence and characteristics of multiple analgesic use in an elderly study group.J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 38: 979–984.
Cwikel, J. (1992). Falls among elderly people living at home: Medical and social factors in a national sample.Isr. J. Med. Sci. 28(7): 446–453.
Fillenbaum, G. G. (1988).Multidimensional Functional Assessment of Older Adults: The Duke Older Americans Resources and Services Procedures, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ.
Gibson, M. J., Andres, R. O., Isaacs, V., Radebaught, T., and Worm-Petersen, J. (1987). The prevention of falls in later life: a report of the Kellogg International Work Group on the prevention of falls by the elderly.Dan. Med. Bull. 34 (Suppl. 4): 1–24.
Gordis, E. (1992). Proceedings House Subcommittee on Health and Long-term Care.Alcohol. Drug Abuse Week. 4: 1042.
Gryfe, C. I., Amies, A., and Ashley, M. J. (1977). A longitudinal study of falls in an elderly population. I. Incidence and morbidity.Age Aging 6: 201.
Gurwitz, J. H. (1994). Suboptimal medication use in the elderly: The tip of the iceberg.JAMA 272: 316–317.
Iliffe, S., Haines, A., Goldenberg, E., Morgan, P., and Galliran, S. (1991). Alcohol consumption by elderly female: A general practice survey.Age Aging 20: 120–123.
Kennedy, T. E., and Coppard, L. C. (eds.) (1987). The prevention of falls in later life.Dan. Med. Bull. 34 (Suppl. 4): 1.
Miller, N., and Gold, M. (1989). Sedative-hypnotics: Pharmacology and use.J. Fam Pract. 29: 665–670.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (1988).National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Main Findings, 1985, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville, MD.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (1993).National Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Main Findings, 1991, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville, MD.
Nelson, D., Sattin, R., Langlois, J., Devito, C., and Stevens, J. (1992). Alcohol as a risk factor for fall injury events among elderly persons.J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 40: 658–661.
Perry, B. C. (1982). Falls among the elderly living in high-rise apartments.J. Fam. Pract. 16: 1069–1072.
Prudham, D., and Evans, J. G. (1981). Factors associated with falls in the elderly: A community study.Age Aging 10: 141–146.
Ray, W. A., Griffin, M. R., and Downey, W. (1989). Benzodiazepines of long and short climination half-life and the risk of hip fracture.JAMA 262: 3303–3307.
Ray, W. A., Griffin, M., and Malcolm, (1991). Cyclic antidepressants and the risk of hip fracture.Arch. Intern. Med. 151: 754–756.
Robbins, C. A. (1991). Social roles and alcohol abuse among older men and women.Family Commun. Health 13: 37–48.
Robbins, C. A., and Clayton, R. R. (1989). Gender-related differences in psychoactive drug use among older adults.J. Drug Issues 19: 207–19.
Sheahan, S. L., Hendricks, J., and Coons, S. J. (1989). Drug misuse among the elderly: A covert problem.Health Values 13(3): 22–29.
Sorock, G. S., and Shimkin, E. E. (1988). Benzodiazepime sedatives and the risk of falling in a community dwelling cohort.Arch. Intern. Med. 148: 2441–2444.
Tinetti, M. E. (1990). Falls. In Hazzard, W. R., et al. (eds.),Principles of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, Chap. 123.
Tinetti, M. E., Speechley, M., and Ginter, S. F. (1988). Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community.N. Engl. J. Med. 319: 1701.
Trewin, V. F., Lawrence, C. J., and Veitch, G. B. A. (1992). An investigation of the association of benzodiazepimes and other hypnotics with the incidence of falls in the elderly.J. Clin. Pharm. Ther. 17: 129–133.
U.S. Census (1990). U.S. population estimates by age, sex, race, and hispanic origin P-25, No. 1057, March.
Widner, S., and Zerhner, A. (1991). Alcohol abuse in the elderly: Review of epidemiological research and treatment.Clin. Gerontol. 11: 3–18.
Wilcox, S. M., Himmelstein, D. U., and Woolhandler, S. (1994). Inappropriate drug prescribing for the community dwelling elderly.JAMA 272: 292–296.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported, in part, by Grant AA0859 from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and by Grant DA05312 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sheahan, S.L., Coons, S.J., Robbins, C.A. et al. Psychoactive medication, alcohol use, and falls among older adults. J Behav Med 18, 127–140 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01857865
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01857865