Timed up and go test and risk of falls in older adults: A systematic review

Background and aims: Inappropriate medication prescription is highly prevalent in older adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between potentially inappropriate medications (PIMS) and potential prescribing omissions with physical function in older adults situated in diverse environments. Methods: A systematic search was completed using the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE and COCHRANE. Results were extracted from the included studies. Results: In total, 55 studies reported on 2,767,594 participants with a mean age of 77.1 years (63.5% women). Study designs comprised 26 retrospective cohort studies, 21 prospective cohort studies and 8 cross-sectional studies. Inappropriate medications in community and hospital settings were significantly associated with higher risk of falls (21 out of 30 studies), higher risk of fractures (7 out of 9 studies), impaired activities of daily living (ADL; 8 out of 10 studies) and impaired instrumental ADL (IADL) score (4 out of 6 studies). Five out of seven studies also showed that PIMs were associated with poorer physical performance comprising the Timed Up and Go test, walking speed, grip strength, time to functional recovery, functional independence and scale of functioning. Many medication classes were implicated as PIMs in falls, fractures and impairment in physical performance including antipsychotic, sedative, anti-anxiety, anticholinergic, antidiabetic, opioid and antihypertensive medications. For patients not receiving musculoskeletal medications, such as calcium, vitamin D and bisphosphonates, older adults were found to be at risk of a hospital admission for a fall or fracture. Conclusion: Inappropriate medication prescriptions are associated with impaired physical function across longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in older adults situated in diverse settings. It is important to support older people to reduce their use of inappropriate medications and prevent prescribing omissions. Plain language summary Inappropriate medications and physical function Background and aims: The use of inappropriate medications is very common in older adults and is associated with harmful health problems. The aim was to examine associations between potentially inappropriate medications and potential prescribing omissions with physical function in older adults situated in diverse environments. Methods: Library databases were examined for possible studies to include and a systematic search was completed. Relevant information was obtained from the included studies. Results: In total, 55 studies reported on 2,767,594 participants who were an average age of 77.1 years and about 6 out of 10 were women. A variety of different study designs were used. Inappropriate medication prescriptions in community and hospital settings were significantly associated with higher risk of falls (21 out of 30 studies), higher risk of fractures (7 out of 9 studies), problems with activities of daily living (ADL), such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, walking and toileting (8 out of 10 studies) and problems with instrumental ADL such as managing medications, house cleaning and shopping (4 out of 6 studies). Five out of seven studies also showed that inappropriate medications were associated with poorer physical performance involving the Timed Up and Go test, walking speed, grip strength, time to functional recovery, functional independence and scale of functioning. Many types of medication classes were shown to be associated with a risk of falls, fractures and problems with physical performance. Omitted medications were also associated with falls and fractures. Conclusion: Inappropriate medication prescriptions are associated with problems relating to physical function. It is important to support older people to reduce their use of inappropriate medications and prevent prescribing omissions.

Download Full-text

Multi-chronic musculoskeletal pain is a useful clinical index to predict the risk of falls in older adults with normal motor function

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research ◽

10.1007/s40520-015-0340-5 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 711-716 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tsuyoshi Asai ◽

Shogo Misu ◽

Ryuichi Sawa ◽

Takehiko Doi ◽

Minoru Yamada

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Musculoskeletal Pain ◽

Motor Function ◽

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain ◽

Clinical Index ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Falls In Older Adults

Download Full-text

Authors’ Reply to Kahlaee et al: “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of the Association Between Anti-hypertensive Classes and the Risk of Falls Among Older Adults”

Drugs & Aging ◽

10.1007/s40266-018-0608-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 95-101

Author(s):

Ka Keat Lim ◽

Hui Ting Ang ◽

Yu Heng Kwan ◽

Chuen Seng Tan ◽

Truls Ostbye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Meta Analyses

Download Full-text

Muscle Weakness and Falls in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ◽

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52310.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 52 (7) ◽

pp. 1121-1129 ◽

Cited By ~ 450

Author(s):

Julie D. Moreland ◽

Julie A. Richardson ◽

Charlie H. Goldsmith ◽

Catherine M. Clase

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Weakness ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Falls In Older Adults

Download Full-text

Analysis of Falls in Older Adults with Multiple Myeloma Undergoing First-Line Therapy

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-129611 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 5886-5886

Author(s):

Kelly L. Schoenbeck ◽

Tanya M. Wildes ◽

Mark A. Fiala

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

First Line ◽

First Line Therapy ◽

Line Therapy ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Falls In Older Adults ◽

First Line Treatment

Background: Patients with multiple myeloma are frequently treated with bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, which is associated with treatment-related peripheral neuropathy. Older adults are at increased risk of falls compared to the general population, often leading to associated morbidity and mortality. While an association between peripheral neuropathy and falls in older adults is well-established, the relationship between bortezomib and falls in older multiple myeloma patients is unknown. Our primary aim was to determine if older patients with multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib as first-line therapy had an increased incidence of falls within the first 12 months after starting treatment. Our secondary aim was to assess the overall survival of patients who fell compared to those who did not among patients who lived more than 12 months after initiating treatment. Methods: We analyzed the SEER-Medicare database for all patients 65 years old or older diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2007 and 2013 and were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare part A, B and D plans. The patients' corresponding Medicare claims data were analyzed through 2014 for myeloma treatments, fall claims, and covariates of interest. The primary outcome was accidental falls (E880-E888) occurring between 14 days to 12 months after starting multiple myeloma treatment. First-line therapy was defined as any anti-myeloma treatment administered within 14 days of starting multiple myeloma treatment, with bortezomib treatment being the focal independent variable. Cox regression was performed to determine the relative risk of having a fall after controlling for other covariates. Patients who started bortezomib after first-line therapy were censored at time of bortezomib commencement. The survival analysis included only patients who survived more than 12 months of starting treatment to allow landmark analysis of falls in the first year. Results: Of 4,084 older adults with new multiple myeloma diagnoses undergoing first-line therapy, the median age was 75 (range 65-97) with 51% males. Bortezomib was used in first-line therapy for 2,052 (50%) patients, of which 157 (8%) patients experienced a fall within 12 months after starting treatment compared to 102 (5%) of patients not receiving bortezomib (p < 0.001). Bortezomib was associated with a 28% increase risk of falls (HR 1.29; 95% CI 1.00-1.65; p = 0.047). In multivariate analysis, bortezomib was not associated with an increased incidence of falls after controlling for age, gender, race, proxies for Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and poor performance status, pre-existing peripheral neuropathy, falls within the 12 months prior to starting first-line myeloma treatment, depression, polypharmacy, and first-line treatment with lenalidomide (Table 1). Advancing age, history of fall(s), depression, and polypharmacy (defined as more than 10 unique prescription medications at initiation of first-line treatment), were all associated with an increased risk of falls, consistent with prior literature. In a landmark analysis of those who survived 12 months following the start of treatment, a fall was associated with a 26% increased risk of hazard for death (aHR 1.26; 95% CI 1.02-1.56; p = 0.033) after controlling for other covariates. The median OS of those with a fall was 35.7 months (95% CI 29.1-48.4) compared to 49.1 months (95% CI 47.1-52.8) for those without (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In older adults with multiple myeloma, treatment with bortezomib was not associated with increased risk of a patient having a diagnostic code for falls. However, experiencing a fall within the year after starting treatment was associated with decreased overall survival. Limitations of the study include that the incidence of falls is likely underestimated in billing data, given prior data from our group showing a rate of self-reported falls of 26% in the year after diagnosis. Additional research, including prospective trials involving fall assessments, should be considered in older patients with multiple myeloma. Disclosures Wildes: Janssen: Research Funding; Carevive: Consultancy. Fiala:Incyte: Research Funding.

Download Full-text

Vitamin D Supplementation Is Associated with a Reduction in Self-Reported Falls among Older Adults with Previous Fall History – Feasibility Study

Journal of Frailty & Aging ◽

10.14283/jfa.2021.46 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

S.D. Anton ◽

R.T. Mankowski ◽

P. Qiu ◽

L. You ◽

B.A. Bensadon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

Falls In Older Adults ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency contributes to muscle weakness and a higher risk of falls in older adults. Objectives: This study explored the impact of vitamin D supplementation on self-reported falls and physical function in older adults with low vitamin D levels and a recent fall history. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five older adults ≥ 70 years with two or more falls during the past year, low vitamin D blood levels (≥10 ng/ml and < 30 ng/mL), and slow gait speed (1.2 m/s) participated in a 6-month vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day) study. A modified version of the Morse Fall Scale questionnaire was used to assess frequency of falls over one-year prior to study enrollment. Functional outcomes (short physical performance battery, handgrip strength, gait Timed Up and Go, and six-minute walk), and vitamin D levels were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results: Based on diaries and pill counts, participants were generally adherent to the intervention (6 of 7 days per week). Supplementation with 800 IU/day of vitamin D for 6 months increased blood vitamin D levels from 23.25±4.8 ng/ml to 29.13±6.9 ng/ml (p<0.001). Self-reported number of falls decreased from an average of 3.76 ± 2.2 falls in one-year to 0.76 ± 1.4 falls (p <0.0001) over the 6-month intervention. No changes in functional outcome measures were observed. Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation at the currently recommended dose of 800 IU/day increased blood vitamin D levels and reduced frequency of falls in older adults with low vitamin D levels and a recent fall history.

Download Full-text