Mortality and Prevalence of Falls, and their Association with Psychiatric Diagnoses and Psychotropic Medications

Abstract

Objective: Falls are a significant health problem which affects quality of life in the elderly. This study was undertaken to study mortality and prevalence of falls, and their associations with psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medications. Methods: The study was a retrospective 10-year data analysis of a general hospital database from 2006-2015. Prevalence, odds ratio, hazard ratio, and survival analysis were analyzed to study the association. Results: The overall prevalence of falls was 3.6%. Subjects with psychiatric diagnoses were with 3.28 more chance of falls. Subjects with psychotropic medication prescriptions were with 1.76 more chance of falls. Survival analysis revealed mean survival of 6.84 years after falls. The average survival years after falls was age related. Subjects with history of falls and carrying psychiatric diagnoses were with mean survival of 6.55 years and the hazard ratio of 0.84. Subjects with history of falls and psychotropic medication prescriptions were with means survival 6.15 years and the hazard ratio of 1.27. Conclusion: Psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medication prescriptions were associated with falls. Subjects with history of psychotropic medication prescriptions were associated with higher risk of mortality.

Keywords

• Falls
• prevalence
• psychiatric diagnosis
• psychotropic medication
• survival