Prescription Opioids Linked to Increased Risk for Serious Fall Events
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2024 -- For adults of all ages, especially those aged 85 years or older, prescription opioids are associated with an increased risk for serious fall events, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Ria E. Hopkins, Ph.D., from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and colleagues conducted a population-based cohort study to quantify the age-related risk for serious fall events among 3,212,369 adults who initiated prescription opioid treatment.
There were 506,573 serious fall events, including 5,210 fatal falls overall. The researchers found that the risk for serious fall events was elevated among all age groups during exposure to opioids; the risk was highest among those aged 85 years or older compared with those aged 18 to 44 years (adjusted incident rate ratio, 6.35). The first 28 days after opioid initiation was a time of increased serious fall risk across all age groups; this risk increased with age. Associations were identified between higher daily opioid doses and serious fall events among individuals aged 18 to 84 years.
"These risks should be considered when prescribing opioids, particularly for individuals with preexisting risk factors for falls, including frailty and older age, or when opioids are prescribed at higher doses," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to Indivior and Seqirus.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2024
Read this next
Osteoporosis Screening Rates Low for Asian American Medicare Beneficiaries
WEDNESDAY, May 1, 2024 -- Rates of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening for osteoporosis are lower than expected for Asian American Medicare beneficiaries, according...
Antihypertensive Meds Initiation Linked to Fractures in Nursing Home Seniors
TUESDAY, April 23, 2024 -- For longer-term nursing home residents, initiation of antihypertensive medication is associated with an increased risk for fractures and falls...
The Injury Prevention Program Reduces Parent-Reported Injuries in Children
MONDAY, April 1, 2024 -- Implementation of The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP), designed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, results in a reduction in parent-reported injuries...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.