ArticleDrugs & aging2021
Anticholinergic and Sedative Medications and Dynamic Gait Parameters in Older Patients.
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 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of Sleep Quality on Gait Variability: Pilot Cohort Study.JMIR aging · 2026Article
- Adequate Psychodrugs Do Not Impair Gait Speed in Older, Relatively Healthy, Independent Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Drug Burden Index and Its Association With Functional Outcomes in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis.Kidney medicine · 2026Article
- Associations between knee extensor strength and gait characteristics derived from shoe-based wearable sensors in older women.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Association of changes in medication with the effectiveness of rehabilitation in older patients: a hospital-based observational study.BMC geriatrics · 2026Observational
- Wearable Sensor Technologies and Gait Analysis for Early Detection of Dementia: Trends and Future Directions.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Neurological soft signs in neurodegenerative dementias: Results of the DemeNSS study.PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences · 2025Article
- Using Computational Video Analysis in Aging Mice to Evaluate the Effects of Chronic Monotherapy, Polypharmacy, and Deprescribing Over Time.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAnticholinergic and sedative medications are associated with poorer physical function in older age. Gait and physical function have traditionally been assessed with the time needed to execute objective function tests. Accelerometer-based gait parameters provide a precise capturing of gait dynamics and patterns and as such have added value.
objectivesThis study examined the associations between cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications and gait dimensions as assessed with accelerometer-based dynamic gait parameters.
methodsData were collected from outpatients of a diagnostic geriatric day clinic who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was quantified with the Drug Burden Index (DBI), a linear additive pharmacological dose-response model. From a total of 22 dynamic gait parameters, the gait dimensions 'Regularity', 'Complexity', 'Stability', 'Pace', and 'Postural Control' were derived using factor analysis (and standardized total scores for these dimensions were calculated accordingly). Data were analyzed with multivariable linear regression analysis, in which adjustment was made for the covariates age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) including dementia, and number of medications not included in the DBI.
resultsA total of 184 patients participated, whose mean age was 79.8 years (± SD 5.8), of whom 110 (60%) were women and of whom 88 (48%) had polypharmacy (i.e., received treatment with ≥5 medications). Of the 893 medications that were prescribed in total, 157 medications (17.6%) had anticholinergic and/or sedative properties. Of the patients, 100 (54%) had no exposure (DBI = 0), 42 (23%) had moderate exposure (0 > DBI ≤ 1), while another 42 (23%) had high exposure (DBI >1) to anticholinergic and sedative medications. Findings showed that high cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was related with poorer function on the Regularity and Pace dimensions. Furthermore, moderate and high exposure were associated with poorer function on the Complexity dimension.
conclusionsThese findings show that in older patients with comorbidities, cumulative anticholinergic and sedative exposure is associated with poorer function on multiple gait dimensions.
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