The goal of anew study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes was to determine the association between dehydration and falls in adults, 65 years and older.

In this a retrospective cohort study, University of Wisconsin Health electronic health records was utilized to examine the association between dehydration at baseline, and falls within three years after baseline—while accounting for prescriptions of loop diuretic, antidepression, anticholinergic, antipsychotic and benzodiazepine/hypnotic medications and demographic characteristics, using logistic regression. Dehydration was defined as serum urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio > 20; sodium level > 145 mg/dL; urine specific gravity > 1.030; or serum osmolality > 295 mOsm/kg.

The results showed that of the 30634 patients, 37.9% were dehydrated; 11.4% had a fall during follow-up; and 11.7% perished during the follow-up period. A positive association of dehydration was found with falls alone. For the outcome of falls or death, dehydration was positively associated along with loop diuretics and antipsychotic medications.

The findings showed that more than one-third of older adults in this cohort were dehydrated, with a strong association between dehydration and falls. It was stated that understanding and addressing the risks associated with dehydration, including falls, has potential for improving quality of life for patients as they age.

Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes. 2020 Jun; 4(3): 259–265.doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2020.01.003