Falls Prevention Week: How Kadance May Help Reduce Medication-Related Falls

Every year, more than 14 million adults aged 65 and older in the United States report experiencing a fall, making unintentional falls the leading cause of both nonfatal and fatal injuries in this age group. Between 2020 and 2021, approximately 27.6% of older adults reported a fall, and in 2021, nearly 38,742 fall-related deaths occurred, highlighting an urgent public health concern.¹ As Falls Prevention Week shines a spotlight on protecting older adults from injury, one powerful yet often overlooked strategy is medication management optimized by pharmacogenomic insights.

Why Falls Matter and Why Medication Risk is a Factor

Research shows that about 1 in 4 older Americans falls annually,¹ and roughly 1 in 10 fall-related incidents lead to injury.² Falls are not inevitable; many can be prevented by identifying and addressing modifiable risk factors with evidence-based interventions.¹

Medication usage is a major contributor to fall risk. For older adults, polypharmacy (taking multiple medications simultaneously) is widespread and often includes drugs like sedatives, antidepressants, opioids, and antihypertensives, all associated with increased falls due to side effects like dizziness, sedation, or impaired balance.^3,4 Environmental adjustments, exercise, and vision care are critical preventive measures, but optimizing medications, including reassessing them as health changes, is equally essential.⁴

Pharmacogenomics: A Precision Tool for Medication Safety

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) studies how an individual’s genetic makeup influences their drug response, including metabolism, efficacy, and risk of adverse effects. For medications metabolized by highly variable enzymes such as CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6, inherited genetic differences can increase the likelihood of ADEs, including falls, particularly among older adults.⁵

Importantly, medication safety is not a static concept. As health conditions evolve and prescriptions are added or changed, the risk profile shifts. A drug that was once safe may become problematic when combined with new therapies or when metabolism changes with age. This makes ongoing medication review a cornerstone of effective fall prevention.

Kadance’s Pharmacogenomic Test and Medication Optimization Program Can Make a Difference

Kadance’s PGx testing and medication optimization program combines advanced genetic testing with expert clinical review to reduce adverse drug events (ADEs) and associated falls. The program begins with a simple test that identifies genetic variants influencing how an individual metabolizes and responds to medications, but it doesn’t stop there.

Through our partnership with GalenusRx, each member’s genetic test results are reviewed by clinical pharmacists who apply GalenusRx’s proprietary APPRAISE™ algorithm. This tool calculates a personalized medication risk score and generates an optimization plan, which is then shared with the prescribing healthcare provider. The provider can then determine whether adjustments are appropriate based on the member’s complete clinical picture.

This approach keeps prescribing decisions in the provider’s hands while equipping them with the insights needed to proactively reduce ADEs, lower fall risk, and improve overall safety through:

1. Medication selection and dosage optimization
   By identifying genetic variants that affect drug metabolism and response, Kadance enables clinicians to choose safer alternatives or adjust doses proactively, especially for high-risk classes like SSRIs, sedatives, and opioids.^6,7
2. Reducing polypharmacy burden
   PGx-informed prescribing supports minimizing unnecessary medications by revealing which drugs are less likely to be effective or more likely to cause harm in a given individual.⁶
3. Ongoing risk assessment
   The Kadance PGx testing and medication optimization program isn’t a one-time analysis. Medication regimens can be reassessed at no additional cost whenever a new prescription is added or a health status changes, ensuring fall risk is continuously monitored and managed throughout a person’s care journey.

By combining personalized prescribing, polypharmacy reduction, and ongoing risk assessment, Kadance delivers a comprehensive approach to medication safety that helps prevent fall-related ADEs and supports safer aging. Integrated into broader strategies, such as home modifications, balance training, and caregiver support, Kadance’s pharmacogenomic testing and medication optimization services empower providers to make safer, more informed choices for their patients.

For more information about our partner, GalenusRx, please visit www.galenusrx.com.

Fall Prevention Starts with Smarter Medication Use

This Falls Prevention Week, we’re highlighting medication safety through precision medicine. Kadance’s pharmacogenomic testing and medication optimization program offers a targeted approach to prescribing, reducing ADEs like medication-induced falls, enhancing quality of life, and helping older adults age more safely. By tailoring treatments to genetic profiles, we can transform fall prevention from reactive care to proactive, precise, and personalized protection.

‍

Sources:

¹Kakara, R., Bergen, G., Burns, E., & Stevens, M. (2023, September 1). Nonfatal and fatal falls among adults aged ≥ 65 years — United States, 2020–2021. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 72(35), 938–943. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a1

²Bergen G, Stevens MR, Kakara R, Burns ER. Understanding Modifiable and Unmodifiable Older Adult Fall Risk Factors to Create Effective Prevention Strategies. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2019;15(6):580-589. doi:10.1177/1559827619880529

³National Institute on Aging. (2022, September 12). Falls and fractures in older adults: Causes and prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/falls-and-fractures-older-adults-causes-and-prevention

⁴Miller, N. S. (2024, August 28). Accidental falls in the older adult population: What academic research shows. The Journalist’s Resource. Harvard Kennedy School. https://journalistsresource.org/health/accidental-falls-in-the-older-adult-population-what-academic-research-shows/

⁵Just KS, Schneider KL, Schurig M, Stingl JC, Brockmöller J. Falls: the adverse drug reaction of the elderly and the impact of pharmacogenetics. Pharmacogenomics. 2017 Aug;18(13):1281-1297. doi: 10.2217/pgs-2017-0018. Epub 2017 Aug 4. PMID: 28776468.

⁶ PharMerica. (2023, December 12). Pharmacogenomics: A valuable step in fall prevention. Illuminate. PharMerica. Accessed August 22, 2025.

⁷PharMerica. (2024, June 16). Fall prevention using pharmacogenomics. Illuminate: Senior Living Articles. PharMerica. Accessed August 22, 2025.