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Insomnia and Hypnotic Use, Recorded in the Minimum Data Set, as Predictors of Falls and Hip Fractures in Michigan Nursing Homes
Author(s) -
Avidan Alon Y.,
Fries Brant E.,
James Mary L.,
Szafara Kristina L.,
Wright Glenn T.,
Chervin Ronald D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53304.x
Subject(s) - medicine , insomnia , minimum data set , hypnotic , odds ratio , confounding , confidence interval , hip fracture , logistic regression , falls in older adults , poison control , injury prevention , physical therapy , psychiatry , emergency medicine , nursing homes , nursing , osteoporosis
Objectives: To examine the relationship between insomnia, hypnotic use, falls, and hip fractures in older people. Design: Secondary analysis of a large, longitudinal, assessment database. Setting: Four hundred thirty‐seven nursing homes in Michigan. Participants: Residents aged 65 and older in 2001 with a baseline Minimum Data Set assessment and a follow‐up 150 to 210 days later. Measurements: Logistic regression modeled any follow‐up report of fall or hip fracture. Predictors were baseline reports of insomnia (previous month) and use of hypnotics (previous week). Potential confounds taken into account included standard measures of functional status, cognitive status, intensity of resource utilization, proximity to death, illness burden, number of medications, emergency room visits, nursing home new admission, age, and sex. Results: In 34,163 nursing home residents (76% women, mean age±standard deviation 84±8), hypnotic use did not predict falls (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.98, 1.30). In contrast, insomnia did predict future falls (AOR=1.52, 95% CI=1.38, 1.66). Untreated insomnia (AOR=1.55, 95% CI=1.41, 1.71) and hypnotic‐treated (unresponsive) insomnia (AOR=1.32, 95% CI=1.02, 1.70) predicted more falls than did the absence of insomnia. After adjustment for confounding variables, insomnia and hypnotic use were not associated with subsequent hip fracture. Conclusion: In elderly nursing home residents, insomnia, but not hypnotic use, is associated with a greater risk of subsequent falls. Future studies will need to confirm these findings and determine whether appropriate hypnotic use can protect against future falls.