Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29471792›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2018

Inpatient falls in older adults: a cohort study of antihypertensive prescribing pre- and post-fall.

H M R B Omer, J Hodson, S K Pontefract, U Martin

Open access · goldAbstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 29% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. This is not the time to modify a HTN regimen.The Journal of family practice · 2021
    Article
  4. Evaluating an inpatient deprescribing initiative at a rural community hospital in Ontario.Canadian pharmacists journal : CPJ = Revue des pharmaciens du Canada : RPC
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

H M R B OmerUniversity Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK.
J HodsonUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
S K PontefractUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
U MartinUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK. u.martin@bham.ac.uk.
University of Birmingham · GBUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust · GBUniversity Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFalls are common during hospital admissions and may occur more frequently in patients who are taking antihypertensive medications, particularly in the context of normal to low blood pressure. The review and adjustment of these medications is an essential aspect of the post-fall assessment and should take place as soon as possible after the fall. Our aim was to investigate whether appropriate post-fall adjustments of antihypertensive medications are routinely made in a large National Health Service (NHS) Trust.

methodsInpatient records over an eight-month period were captured from an electronic prescribing system to identify older adults (≥80 years old) with normal/low blood pressures (< 140 mmHg systolic) who had a documented inpatient fall as these patients were considered to be at high risk of further falls. Prescribed antihypertensive medication on admission was then compared with the post-fall (within 24 h after the fall) and discharge prescriptions.

resultsA total of 146 patients were included in the analysis. Of those, 120 patients (82%) were taking the same number of antihypertensive medications in the 24 h after the fall as they were before; only 19 patients (13%) had a reduction in the number of medications and seven patients (5%) had an increase in medications during that period. Only 9% of the antihypertensive classes assessed were either stopped or reduced in dose immediately post-fall. In addition, 11 new antihypertensives were prescribed at this time. At discharge, half of the patients (n = 73) remained on the same number of antihypertensive medication as on admission, 51 patients (35%) were on fewer antihypertensives and 22 (15%) were on more. Additionally, no changes were made to individual antihypertensives in 49% of prescriptions; 34% were stopped or reduced in dose but 38 new agents were started by the time of discharge. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB) were the class of medications most commonly stopped or reduced (51%).

conclusionsAntihypertensive prescriptions are frequently unchanged after an inpatient fall. Routine medication review needs to be part of post-fall assessments in hospital to reduce the risk of further falls.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsAgedAge FactorsAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAntihypertensive AgentsBlood PressureBlood Pressure DeterminationCohort StudiesDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHospitalizationHumansHypertensionMaleMiddle AgedPatient DischargeAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAntihypertensive AgentsAntihypertensiveMedication reviewPostural hypotension

Identifiers

PMID29471792
PMCPMC5824567
OpenAlexW2788922062

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.