The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66839

Aida LeRoy, PharmD¹, Suzanne Feldman, PhD², M. Lee Morse, BS¹, and Dewei She, MS¹. (1) Orchid Biosciences, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 1400, Arlington, VA 22209, (2) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street, SW, Room 5115, Washington, DC 20590, 202.366.0868, slfeldman@nhtsa.dot.gov

Older adults are often treated with multiple medications for diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension that are associated with aging. The elderly consume about 30 percent of prescription medications, but only comprise 13 percent of the population (Ellenhorn’s Medical Toxicology, 2nd ed). Driving skills may be impaired by a number of these medical conditions. Also impairment may occur from the side effects and interactions of the medications resulting in blurred vision, tremors, and related conditions. McGwin and others found that the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and anticoagulants were each associated with an increase risk of at-fault involvement crashes, but calcium channel blockers and vasodilators were each associated with a decreased risk of crash involvement. Yet, very little is known about the relationships between diseases and use of multiple medications with vehicular crashes among older drivers. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to identify the frequency of multiple medications and medical conditions within the elderly population and (2) to conduct a case-control study of the associations between the use of medications, medical conditions, and vehicular crashes among older drivers. In this presentation, issues associated with choosing datasets, results of the case-control analyses, as well as, suggestions for future research and implications for policy development are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
• Describe a process to access information about multiple medication usage, diseases, and vehicle crashes.
• Identify at least 3 issues involved with conducting research about multiple medications, diseases, and vehicular crashes.
• Describe the relative frequency of various combinations of medications and diseases among older adults.
• Describe the results of a case-control study about vehicle crash-involved individuals who were using mutiple medications.
• Articulate future research and policy implications of the research results.

Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.