In a new study, researchers found that adults who take several prescription medications are more likely to experience serious falls.
Medications linked to serious falls included those commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia (benzodiazepines), as well as muscle relaxants and prescription opioids.
This heightened risk can affect many people who are younger than 65.
The research was conducted by a team from Yale University.
In the study, the team used patient data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), a national study of individuals who receive care through the Veterans Health Administration (VA).
They identified 13,000 fall cases and compared them to people of similar age, race, sex, and HIV status.
They found the fall risk factors included prescription medication use, and alcohol and illegal drug use.
The result showed that falls were a problem for middle-aged patients.
Although health care providers typically think about falls in people over age 65, these people were primarily in their 50s and falls were an important concern.
The study also found that the simultaneous use of more than one drugs plays a big role in serious falls among patients.
The researchers noted that people treated for HIV often take several medications and often at a younger age.
Another important finding is the role of alcohol and illegal drug use in falls.
The team suggests that programs designed to prevent serious falls in older adults may need to be modified to address risks for middle-aged adults.
Reducing falls in middle-aged and older adults is vital because falls contribute to increased risk of injuries, hospitalizations, and death.
The lead author of the study is Julie Womack, an associate professor at the Yale School of Nursing.
The study is published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
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