Is the Drug Burden Index Related to Declining Functional Status at Follow-up in Community-Dwelling Seniors Consulting for Minor Injuries? Results from the Canadian Emergency Team Initiative Cohort Study

Background The Canadian Emergency Team Initiative (CETI) cohort showed that minor injuries like sprained ankles or small fractures trigger a downward spiral of functional decline in 16% of independent seniors up to 6 months post-injury. Such seniors frequently receive medications with sedative or anticholinergic properties. The Drug Burden Index (DBI), which summarises the drug burden of these specific medications, has been associated with decreased physical and cognitive functioning in previous research.