الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 145 |  |  |
| | | from | 145 | | |
Abstract
UMMARY
Older people make up a large and an increasing
percentage of the population. As people grow older they are
increasingly at risk of falling and consequent injuries.
A fall may be the first indication of an undetected illness.
The prevention of falls is of major importance because they
cause considerable mortality, morbidity and suffering for older
people and their families, and incur serious physical,
psychological and financial consequences to the patient and
also to the society.
Although, falls are multi-factorial, medication use is an
important risk factor among the different risk factors of falls.
This thesis was conducted to assess the relation between
medication use and falls among elderly in elderly homes.
It was a case control study that included 240 elderly
participants (60 years old and above), both males and females
who were recruited from Cairo’s elderly home residents, they
were divided into three groups: Non fallers, People at risk of
falls and fallers.
The study showed that mean age of fallers and people at
risk of falls was significantly higher than that of non-fallers.
Summary
78
Regarding the main issue of the study, It showed a clear
significance of the association between falls and medication use
among elderly by showing that falls were significantly
associated with the use of vasodilators (33.8% of fallers),
diuretics (33.8% of fallers), alpha blockers (31.3% of fallers),
antipsychotics (31.3% of fallers), sedative hypnotics (26.3% of
fallers) and opioids (6.3% of fallers).
The current study also showed that there was also a
significant association between falls and the recent change in
dose of ACEIs, diuretics, insulin and oral hypoglycemics.It also
showed that falls were significantly associated with the use 5
drugs or more.
As regards the chronic medical disorders among the three
studied groups, the current study showed that the most
significant association was between falls and IHD (38.8% of
fallers).
The most significant chronic medical disorder that was
associated with increased risk of falls was osteoarthritis (50%
of people with TUGT>14).
Also, There was a significant association between falls
and postural hypotension.
Additionally, the current study also identified that falls
and increase risk of falls are significantly associated with
higher BMI and higher scores of GDS.
Summary
79
The current study also showed that falls were
significantly associated with functional impairment as
measured by ADL & IADL. It showed also a significant
association between a lower score of MMSE and the increased
risk of falls.
Multivariate logistic regression proved that the strongest
risk factors that can predict falls were the use of alpha blockers
and the use of vasodilators, showing a clear evidence of the
significance of the association between falls and medication use
among elderly.