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Risk for Fractures with Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: An Analysis of a National Medicare Advantage Claims Database
Adam G. Golden, Qianli Ma, Vinit P. Nair, Hermes Flórez, Bernard A. Roos. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2010-07-06
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
After adjusting demographic and clinical covariates, muscle relaxants, long-acting benzodiazepines, and short-acting benzodiazepines were associated with a high risk of fracture injuries, with odds ratios of 1.40 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.72; p < 0.001), 1.9 (95% CI 1.49 to 2.43; p < 0.001), and 1.33 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.55; p < 0.001), respectively. An elevated risk of fracture injuries was noted among older adults using muscle relaxants. Our findings provide evidence of an association between the risk of fractures and the use of centrally acting muscle relaxants in older adults. This association supports current recommendations advising extreme caution in prescribing muscle relaxants to older adults.
Key findings
- After adjusting demographic and clinical covariates, muscle relaxants, long-acting benzodiazepines, and short-acting benzodiazepines were associated with a high risk of fracture injuries, with odds ratios of 1.40 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.72; p < 0.001), 1.9 (95% CI 1.49 to 2.43; p < 0.001), and 1.33 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.55; p < 0.001), respectively.
- An elevated risk of fracture injuries was noted among older adults using muscle relaxants.
- Our findings provide evidence of an association between the risk of fractures and the use of centrally acting muscle relaxants in older adults.
- This association supports current recommendations advising extreme caution in prescribing muscle relaxants to older adults.
Why it matters
This study found that use of centrally acting muscle relaxants in older adults was associated with a higher risk of fracture injuries. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease, and it supports caution when prescribing muscle relaxants to older adults.
Study details
- Study designcase-control study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a case-control study. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Annals of Pharmacotherapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Annals of Pharmacotherapy: journal h-index 153 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 6 / 12 | A case-control study |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 28 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.6 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Bernard A. Roos: h-index 54 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Miami: institution h-index 998 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20606016) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Golden, A. G., Ma, Q., Nair, V. P., Flórez, H., & Roos, B. A. (2010). Risk for Fractures with Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: An Analysis of a National Medicare Advantage Claims Database. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1p210
Vancouver
Golden AG, Ma Q, Nair VP, Flórez H, Roos BA. Risk for Fractures with Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: An Analysis of a National Medicare Advantage Claims Database. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2010. doi:10.1345/aph.1p210. PMID: 20606016.
BibTeX
@article{golden2010-20606016,
author = {Golden, Adam G. and Ma, Qianli and Nair, Vinit P. and Flórez, Hermes and Roos, Bernard A.},
title = {{Risk for Fractures with Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: An Analysis of a National Medicare Advantage Claims Database}},
journal = {Annals of Pharmacotherapy},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1345/aph.1p210},
pmid = {20606016},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1p210}
}
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