Which risk is associated with warfarin in older adults?

Which risk is associated with warfarin in older adults?

• A. Lower risk of bleeding.
• B. No drug interactions.
• C. Leads to more hospitalizations due to adverse events.
• D. Only causes headaches.

Answer: (C)

Warfarin carries a high risk of adverse events in older adults because it has a narrow therapeutic window and its effect can be easily altered by age-related changes, comorbidities, and many other medications or foods. In the elderly, small shifts in dose, vitamin K intake, or drug interactions can push the INR into a range that bleeds rather than clots. This makes major bleeding events more likely, and such events often require hospitalization—whether from intracranial or gastrointestinal bleeds, or complications after a fall while anticoagulated. So the risk that best fits is that warfarin can lead to more hospitalizations due to adverse events. The other statements don’t fit: bleeding risk is not lower; there are numerous drug and food interactions; and adverse effects are not limited to headaches.

Warfarin carries a high risk of adverse events in older adults because it has a narrow therapeutic window and its effect can be easily altered by age-related changes, comorbidities, and many other medications or foods. In the elderly, small shifts in dose, vitamin K intake, or drug interactions can push the INR into a range that bleeds rather than clots. This makes major bleeding events more likely, and such events often require hospitalization—whether from intracranial or gastrointestinal bleeds, or complications after a fall while anticoagulated. So the risk that best fits is that warfarin can lead to more hospitalizations due to adverse events. The other statements don’t fit: bleeding risk is not lower; there are numerous drug and food interactions; and adverse effects are not limited to headaches.