ArticleTherapeutic advances in drug safety2020
Anticholinergic burden in middle-aged women and recurrent falls in later life: findings from the Aberdeen prospective osteoporosis screening study (APOSS).
Article in Therapeutic advances in drug safety, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Association Between Polypharmacy and Physical Function in Middle-aged Adults: Findings from the CARDIA Function Study.Journal of general internal medicine · 2026Article
- The synergistic effect of anticholinergic burden and depression on fall risk in older persons.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2025Article
- Clinical pharmacist-led assessment and management of anticholinergic burden and fall risk in geriatric patients.BMC geriatrics · 2023Article
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8 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAnticholinergic burden (ACB) is a recognised risk factor for falls in older people; however, whether ACB in middle age predicts falls in later life is unknown.
methodsWe examined this association in the middle-aged women of the Aberdeen Prospective Osteoporosis Screening Study (APOSS). ACB was calculated at the second health visit (1997-1999, study baseline) using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale. Outcomes were incidence of 1 fall and recurrent falls (⩾2 falls) during the 12 months prior to follow up 2007-2011. Multinomial logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders including demographics, comorbidities and falls history.
resultsA total of 2125 women {mean age (standard deviation [SD]): 54.7 (2.2) years at baseline and 66.0 (2.2) years at follow up} were included. Prevalence of baseline ACB score of 0, 1 and ⩾2 was 87.1%, 7.3% and 5.6%, respectively. Compared with no ACB, ACB ⩾2 was associated with recurrent falls in the previous 12 months [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31, 4.19] at an average of 11 years after initial exposure. No such association was found for an ACB score of 1.
conclusionsThese findings highlight the potential negative effects of anticholinergic medications in middle age. While cautious use of anticholinergic medications is advisable, further longitudinal research should be conducted to confirm these findings before any specific clinical recommendations can be made.
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