Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

The Impact of PRISCUS Medication on Fall Risks

This study investigates how certain medications affect the risk of falling, especially in older adults. Researchers are using hospital records from Germany to check if a specific list of medicines (called the PRISCUS list) accurately identifies those that increase fall risk. They also want to find any other medications not on this list that might also be a problem. Over 900,000 patient records from 2016 to 2022 are being reviewed. This will help doctors better understand which medicines could lead to falls and make prescribing safer for patients, reducing the chance of injuries.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Enrolment target

932,912

Start

01 Sep 2024

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2025

Fall Injury

What is this study about?

This study is looking into a really important topic: how some medications might increase the chances of older people falling. Falling can lead to injuries, so understanding which medicines might contribute to this is key to keeping people safe and healthy. In Germany, there's a special list of medicines, called the PRISCUS list, that experts believe might not be suitable for older adults because of potential side effects, like increasing fall risk. However, this list hasn't been fully checked using information from lots of real patients.

That's where this study comes in. Researchers are going through a huge amount of anonymous patient information from a hospital in Germany. They're looking at records from over 900,000 patients between 2016 and 2022 to see if the medicines on the PRISCUS list genuinely lead to more falls. They also want to find out if there are other medications not currently on this list that seem to increase the risk of falling. This will help make the list more accurate and useful for doctors.

The main goal is to make sure doctors have the best possible information when prescribing medicines, especially for older patients. By identifying medications that might cause falls, healthcare professionals can make more informed choices, adjust dosages, or suggest alternative treatments. Ultimately, this study aims to help reduce falls and related injuries, improving the safety and well-being of many people.

Key takeaways

This study uses anonymous hospital records to improve medicine safety.
It checks which medicines might increase the risk of falls, especially in older people.
The goal is to make a German list of risky medicines (PRISCUS list) more accurate.
This research aims to help doctors prescribe medicines more safely.
No patients are directly involved; it's all based on existing, anonymised data.

Who may be eligible?

This study uses existing, anonymous patient records, so you won't actually be taking part directly. This means you don't need to do anything or sign up for anything.

The electronic records they are looking at are from patients who were treated in 20 different hospital departments that tend to see more falls. These departments include areas like cancer treatment, blood disorders, care for older people, and mental health services. This helps them get a broad picture of different patient groups.

To be included in the anonymous data analysis, the patient records need to be for adults aged 18 or over. Any records belonging to people under 18 years old are not included.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years or older?
Were you a patient at a German research hospital between 2016 and 2022?
Were you treated in a department where falls are common (e.g., oncology, geriatrics)?
Did you consent to your anonymised data being used for research at that hospital (if applicable)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

As this study is a 'retrospective observational study', you will not be asked to participate directly or change anything about your current treatment. The researchers are looking back at anonymised information from patient health records that have already been collected at a hospital in Germany between 2016 and 2022. This means patients aren't involved in any appointments, assessments, taking new medicines, or follow-up visits specifically for this research. Your personal information will be kept private and anonymous, and the study doesn't affect your medical care in any way.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only looks at anonymous past health records, there are no direct risks or benefits to individuals. You won't be involved in any procedures or changes to your treatment. The potential benefit of this research is for wider society: it aims to improve how doctors prescribe medicines, especially for older people. By identifying potential fall-risk medications, it could lead to better guidelines, reducing falls and injuries in the future. The data used is anonymous, so your privacy is fully protected.

Locations (1)

Institute for Medical Informatics | Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Verified postcode
Berlin, Germany

Common questions

What is the PRISCUS list mentioned in the study?

It's a German list of medicines that experts think might not be the best choice for older adults, often because they could cause side effects like increasing the risk of falls.

Will my personal data be used in this study?

No, your personal data will not be used. The study uses anonymous health records, meaning all identifying information has been removed to protect your privacy.

Who is funding this research?

The information provided does not specify the funding source for this particular study.

What will researchers do with the results?

The results will help doctors and healthcare professionals understand which medications might cause falls, leading to safer prescribing practices and hopefully reducing falls in older adults.

Is this study happening in the UK?

No, this specific study is taking place in Germany, using anonymised patient records from a German hospital.