Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34224104›Full record

ArticleDrugs & aging2021

A Propensity Score Matched Approach to Assess the Associations of Commonly Prescribed Medications with Fall Risk in a Large Harmonized Cohort of Older Ambulatory Persons.

L J Seppala, B van de Loo, M Schut, N M van Schoor, B H Stricker, R A Kenny, F Moriarty, L C P G M de Groot, M Denkinger, D Rothenbacher and 2 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drugs & aging, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 38% 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

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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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

12 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.

L J SeppalaSection of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
B van de LooSection of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M SchutDepartment of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
N M van SchoorDepartment of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
B H StrickerDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
R A KennyDepartment of Medical Gerontology, TILDA, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
F MoriartyDepartment of Medical Gerontology, TILDA, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
L C P G M de GrootDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
M DenkingerGeriatric Research Unit, Agaplesion Bethesda Clinic, Geriatric Centre Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
D RothenbacherInstitute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
Nathalie van der VeldeSection of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. n.vandervelde@amsterdamumc.nl.ORCID 0000-0002-6477-6209
A Abu-HannaDepartment of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Amsterdam University Medical Centers · NLAgaplesion Bethesda Klinik · DEErasmus MC · NLRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland · IETrinity College Dublin · IEUniversität Ulm · DEWageningen University & Research · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSeveral medication classes are considered to present risk factors for falls. However, the evidence is mainly based on observational studies that often lack adequate adjustment for confounders. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations of medication classes with fall risk by carefully selecting confounders and by applying propensity score matching (PSM).

methodsData from several European cohorts, harmonized into the ADFICE_IT cohort, was used. Our primary outcome was time until the first fall within 1-year follow-up. The secondary outcome was a fall in the past year. Our exposure variables were commonly prescribed medications. We used 1:1 PSM to match the participants with reported intake of specific medication classes with participants without. We constructed Cox regression models stratified by the pairs matched on the propensity score for our primary outcome and conditional logistic regression models for our secondary outcome.

resultsIn total, 32.6% of participants fell in the 1-year follow-up and 24.4% reported falling in the past year. ACE inhibitor users (prevalence of use 15.3%) had a lower fall risk during follow-up when matched to non-users, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.82 (95% CI 0.68-0.98). Also, statin users (prevalence of use 20.1%) had a lower risk, with an HR of 0.76 (95% CI 0.65-0.90). Other medication classes showed no association with risk of first fall. Also, in our secondary outcome analyses, statin users had a significantly lower risk. Furthermore, β-blocker users had a lower fall risk and proton pump inhibitor use was associated with a higher risk in our secondary outcome analysis.

conclusionMany commonly prescribed medication classes showed no associations with fall risk in a relatively healthy population of community-dwelling older persons. However, the treatment effects and risks can be heterogeneous between individuals. Therefore, focusing on identification of individuals at risk is warranted to optimize personalized falls prevention.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsIndependent LivingAgedAged, 80 and overCohort StudiesHumansPropensity ScoreRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID34224104
PMCPMC8419131
OpenAlexW3182916958

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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.