Falls Flashcards
What is a fall?
Non-intentionally coming to rest at a lower level
What is syncope?
Sudden, transient loss of consciousness due to reduced cerebral perfusion
What are the common causes of falls?
Drugs: polypharmacy, alcohol
Age-related changes: gait, balance, sensory impairment
Medical: syncope, Parkinson’s, stroke
Environmental: obstacles, wires, light
How would you take an assessment of a falls history?
SPLATTD
Symptoms: dizziness, chest pain, LOC, tongue biting
Previous falls
Location
Activity
Time: after tablets/meal, coughing/straining
Trauma: sustained. Head injuries, anything needs attention
Drug history
What 4 visual impairments increase the risk of falls?
Glaucoma
Macular degeneration
Retinopathy
Catarcats
What bloods would you do to assess falls?
FBC
U+Es
TSH
Glucose
B12, folate
Calcium, phosphate
What is a drug interaction?
A situation in which a substance (usually another drug) affects the activity of a drug when both are given together
What is an adverse drug reaction?
An injury caused by taking a medication
What 3 factors can cause an adverse drug reaction?
Dose
Time-course
Susceptibility
Name the 4 pharmacokinetic processes?
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion
How can age affect absorption of a drug?
Swallowing
Gastric emptying
Intestinal motility
Blood flow
Surface area
How can age affect distribution of a drug?
Tissue perfusion and blood flow
Low plasma protein binding
How can age affect metabolism of a drug?
Reduced hepatic mass
Reduced hepatic blood flow
Reduced thyroid function
Genetics
How can age affect excretion of a drug?
Reduced renal blood flow
Reduced GFR
