BMC Geriatrics

Table 3 Fall rates and number needed to harm, by age group and FRD/PIM therapy class count

From: Joint effects of advancing age and number of potentially inappropriate medication classes on risk of falls in Medicare enrollees

PIM Class Count	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10 or More
Fall Rate (%)
Aged 65–74	2.2	2.5	3.3	4.4	5.6	7.6	9.4	12.0	14.6	15.8	19.7
Aged 75–84	5.0	5.5	7.1	8.9	11.0	13.6	15.9	18.2	20.7	19.1	24.8
Aged 85–89	10.5	11.6	13.0	15.3	18.2	21.1	22.6	25.7	25.3	29.8	29.4
Aged 90 or older	16.4	17.6	19.0	20.8	23.7	24.7	26.4	29.0	28.4	26.6	34.8
NNH ^a
Aged 65–74	REF	333	91	45	29	19	14	10	8	7	6
Aged 75–84	REF	200	48	26	17	12	9	8	6	7	5
Aged 85–89	REF	91	40	21	13	9	8	7	7	5	5
Aged 90 or older	REF	83	38	23	14	12	10	8	8	10	5
N of cases
Aged 65–74	249,592	228,484	182,661	119,321	70,219	38,291	20,077	9,663	4,376	1,986	1,228
Aged 75–84	104,926	120,819	115,493	85,382	53,848	29,888	15,200	7,164	3,202	1,247	746
Aged 85–89	23,842	30,491	32,800	25,943	16,479	8,964	4,647	1,972	841	329	194
Aged 90 or older	10,772	13,563	15,362	12,295	8,010	4,301	2,072	869	313	109	46
90-Day Sensitivity Analysis ^b
PIM Class Count	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8 or More
Fall Rate (%)
Aged 65–74	2.3	3.0	4.0	5.5	7.6	9.9	12.6	15.3	18.4
Aged 75–84	5.4	6.4	8.2	10.4	13.4	16.3	19.6	21.3	26.1
Aged 85–89	11.2	12.4	14.3	17.4	20.6	23.1	26.5	28.5	33.2
Aged 90 or older	17.3	18.4	19.6	22.2	25.9	26.6	33.1	32.9	30.3
NNH ^a
Aged 65–74	REF	143	59	31	19	13	10	8	6
Aged 75–84	REF	100	36	20	13	9	7	6	5
Aged 85–89	REF	83	32	16	11	8	7	6	5
Aged 90 or older	REF	91	43	20	12	11	6	6	8
N of cases
Aged 65–74	343,037	254,623	168,391	89,481	41,817	17,748	7122	2467	1212
Aged 75–84	153,359	146,807	115,483	67,987	32,870	13,899	5046	1742	732
Aged 85–89	36,324	38,886	33,915	20,754	10,232	4156	1517	513	205
Aged 90 or older	16,422	17,320	15,835	10,158	5,036	1945	720	210	66

^aMultiplicative inverse of absolute difference between fall rate for FRD/PIM therapy class count shown in the row label and fall rate for zero (0) FRD/PIM classes. ^bMeasure FRD/PIM therapy class counts in the 90 days, rather than 365 days, prior to the index date. FRD fall risk drug, NNH number needed to harm, PIM potentially inappropriate medication, REF reference category for NNH calculation

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ISSN: 1471-2318

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