Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) and Falls Risks in Older American Indians and Alaska Native Adults: A Pilot Study

The association between medications and increased risk of falls applies to both the number of medications used currently (polypharmacy); and to specific medications and medication classes. In a previous article, we called attention to the frequency of “polypharmacy” (concurrent use of multiple medications) among older American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) represented in the IHS National Data Warehouse (NDW) data.3 Polypharmacy increases the risk of falls by increasing the risk of medication compliance errors, adverse events, and drug drug interactions.