Diseases
Frailty, Inflammaging, and Polypharmacy as Interacting Determinants of Falls in Older Women: A Clinical and Pharmacological Perspective in Primary Care Settings
By Bosnić Z, Pitlović H, Šofić I and 7 others.
Abstract
Background
Falls in older women are multifactorial events driven by the complex interaction of age-related loss of physiological reserve, frailty, sarcopenia, chronic low-grade inflammation, multimorbidity, and medication exposure. Older women represent a substantial proportion of fall-related injuries and fractures, yet available evidence is highly heterogeneous. Since many studies focus on mixed-sex cohorts, we must differentiate women-specific findings from general geriatric data.
Methods
A structured narrative review was conducted to integrate biological, clinical, and pharmacological evidence on falls in older women, focusing particularly on primary care. The initial literature search covered PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase from January 2000 to March 2025. To ensure the integration of recent high-level evidence, a supplementary search and backward citation tracking were subsequently executed through 31 August 2026, aligning with peer-review recommendations. Women-specific evidence was prioritized over mixed-sex cohorts. Given that the review aims for an interpretive synthesis rather than quantitative effect estimation, a meta-analysis and formal risk-of-bias assessments were omitted.