부산대학교 도서관

Background: The multifactorial nature of falls is well known, and several studies on falls in the elderly have reported that laxatives can be a risk factor, but without attempting to discuss possible mechanisms to explain this role. Objective: We aimed to isolate studies in which the risk factors for falls in the elderly related to laxatives have been evaluated and to carry out a metaanalysis combining the results of all identified good-quality studies. Methods: Systematic literature review using the keywords 'accidental fall/ numerical data' and 'risk factors'. This was followed by a manual search for articles cited in the previously identified publications. Articles were analysed if they had study populations aged [greater than or equal to] 60 years, reported on falls occurring in everyday life, were observational or interventional studies that identified laxatives as a risk factor for falls, and were written in French or English. Articles of this type that were considered to be of good quality were included in the meta-analysis. Results: 3747 indexed articles published between 1981 and 2007 were identified. Of these, seven articles met all inclusion criteria and were analysed. The odds ratio (95% CI) for the association between use of laxatives and fall occurrence in subjects participating in the good-quality trials (n = 4) included in the meta-analysis was 2.03 (1.52, 2.72). This result was statistically homogeneous (percentage of the total variation across studies due to heterogeneity [[I.sup.2]] = 0). Conclusions: Elderly subjects treated with laxatives were twice as likely to fall compared with non-laxative users. The causal relationship was probably not directly attached to a side effect of the substance used, but rather a reflection of other pathologies (e.g. older age, confinement to bed, concomitant Parkinson's disease) that may themselves cause falls.
Background Laxatives frequently appear in lists of drugs that may lead to falls in the elderly. [1-3] Most often, authors refer to the OASIS (Older Adult Service and Information System) [...]