Etusivulle

Association of anticholinergics with falls, hospitalizations and mortality

  • The use of anticholinergics has been found to increase the risk of falls11,27,29
  • The use of anticholinergics also increases the risk of hospitalization28 and hospital treatments are prolonged28, the need for visiting general practitioner increases28
  • Consequently, healthcare costs also increase
  • According to different studies, the effect of anticholinergics on mortality, the results are contradictory
  • In some studies, an association between the use of anticholinergics and increased mortality has been found30, 31, 32
  • In other studies, the association has not been established33, 34, 35
Previous References

11. Rudolph JL, Salow MJ, Angelini MC, et al. The anticholinergic risk scale and anticholinergic adverse effects in older persons. Arch Intern Med 2008;168:508-513.

27. Landi F, Dell'Aquila G, Collamati A, Martone AM, Zuliani G, Gasperini B, Eusebi P, Lattanzio F, Cherubini A. Anticholinergic drug use and negative outcomes among the frail elderly population living in a nursing home. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2014;15:825-9.

28. Salahudeen MS, Hilmer SN, Nishtala PS. Comparison of anticholinergic risk scales and associations with adverse health outcomes in older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 2015;63:85-90.

29. Dauphinot V, Faure R, Omrani S, Goutelle S, Bourguignon L, Krolak-Salmon P, Mouchoux C. Exposure to anticholinergic and sedative drugs, risk of falls, and mortality: an elderly inpatient, multicenter cohort. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2014;34:565-70.

30. Panula J, Puustinen J, Jaatinen P, Vahlberg T, Aarnio P, Kivela SL. Effects of potent anticholinergics, sedatives and antipsychotics on postoperative mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture: a retrospective, population-based study. Drugs Aging 2009;26:963-71.

31. Gnjidic D, Hilmer SN, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM, Taipale H, Koponen M, Bell JS. Impact of high risk drug use on hospitalization and mortality in older people with and without Alzheimer's disease: a national population cohort study. PLoS One 2014;9:e83224.

32. Ruxton K, Woodman RJ, Mangoni AA. Drugs with anticholinergic effects and cognitive impairment, falls and all-cause mortality in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2015;80:209-20.

33. Uusvaara J, Pitkala KH, Kautiainen H, Tilvis RS, Strandberg TE. Association of anticholinergic drugs with hospitalization and mortality among older cardiovascular patients: A prospective study. Drugs Aging 2011;28:131-8.

34. Wilson NM, Hilmer SN, March LM, Chen JS, Gnjidic D, Mason RS, Cameron ID, Sambrook PN. Associations between drug burden index and mortality in older people in residential aged care facilities. Drugs Aging 2012;29:157-65.

35. Kumpula EK, Bell JS, Soini H, Pitkälä KH. Anticholinergic drug use and mortality among residents of long-term care facilities: a prospective cohort study. J Clin Pharmaco 2011;51:256-63.