Associations between drug burden index and physical function in older people in residential aged care facilities

Abstract

SIR—The functional decline seen in older people results in a need for increased support from carers, health care services and residential aged care facilities (RACFs) [1]. Impaired physical function in older people predicts nursing home placement and death [2]. While advances in medical management have aided in managing many diseases, certain classes of medications have adverse effects on physical function in older adults [3–5]. Expert consensus panels have compiled criteria for drugs that are potentially inappropriate for older people [5–8]. Anticholinergic and sedative drugs occur frequently in these criteria; however, the effects of cumulative exposure are not addressed.