Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors
Introduction The long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) and z-drugs in older populations is associated with a variety of sociodemographic and health-related factors. Recent studies reported that long-term BZD and z-drugs use is associated with increased age, female sex, and severe negative psycholog...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2018-05-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/4614.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797418660462067712 |
|---|---|
| author | Aliaksandra Mokhar Niklas Tillenburg Jörg Dirmaier Silke Kuhn Martin Härter Uwe Verthein |
| author_facet | Aliaksandra Mokhar Niklas Tillenburg Jörg Dirmaier Silke Kuhn Martin Härter Uwe Verthein |
| author_sort | Aliaksandra Mokhar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction The long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) and z-drugs in older populations is associated with a variety of sociodemographic and health-related factors. Recent studies reported that long-term BZD and z-drugs use is associated with increased age, female sex, and severe negative psychological (e.g., depression) and somatic (e.g., chronic disease) factors. The current study explores the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with long-term BZD and z-drugs use in the elderly. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among randomly selected patients of one health insurance plan (“AOK North-West”) with BZD and z-drugs prescriptions in the past 12 months. The sample was stratified by appropriate German prescription guidelines (yes vs. no) and age (50–65 vs. >65 years). To examine the association of selected sociodemographic and psychological variables (e.g., sex, employment status, quality of life, depression) with long-term use, a binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results In total, data from 340 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 72.1 (SD = 14.5) years, and the most commonly used substances were zopiclon (38.1%), oxazepam (18.1%), and lorazepam (13.8%). The mean defined daily dose (DDD) was 0.73 (SD = 0.47). Insomnia was the main reason for prescribing BZD and z-drugs. The long-term use of BZD and z-drugs was significantly associated with unemployment (OR = 2.9, 95% CI [1.2–7.1]) and generally problematic medication use (OR = 0.5, 95% CI [0.2–1.0]). Discussion Unemployment status and problematic medication use had a significant association with the patient-reported, long-term use of BZD and z-drugs. Divergent prescription patterns might suggest problematic patterns of BZD and z-drugs use. The causal connection between the identified factors and problematic BZD and z-drugs prescription is not discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, employment status and possible evidence of general problematic drug use may be a warning signal to the prescribers of BZD and z-drugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:36:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a13949a190d4c92839cae96fb8f28dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:36:06Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a13949a190d4c92839cae96fb8f28dc2023-12-03T10:56:57ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-05-016e461410.7717/peerj.4614Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factorsAliaksandra Mokhar0Niklas Tillenburg1Jörg Dirmaier2Silke Kuhn3Martin Härter4Uwe Verthein5Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyCenter for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyCenter for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyIntroduction The long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) and z-drugs in older populations is associated with a variety of sociodemographic and health-related factors. Recent studies reported that long-term BZD and z-drugs use is associated with increased age, female sex, and severe negative psychological (e.g., depression) and somatic (e.g., chronic disease) factors. The current study explores the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with long-term BZD and z-drugs use in the elderly. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among randomly selected patients of one health insurance plan (“AOK North-West”) with BZD and z-drugs prescriptions in the past 12 months. The sample was stratified by appropriate German prescription guidelines (yes vs. no) and age (50–65 vs. >65 years). To examine the association of selected sociodemographic and psychological variables (e.g., sex, employment status, quality of life, depression) with long-term use, a binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results In total, data from 340 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 72.1 (SD = 14.5) years, and the most commonly used substances were zopiclon (38.1%), oxazepam (18.1%), and lorazepam (13.8%). The mean defined daily dose (DDD) was 0.73 (SD = 0.47). Insomnia was the main reason for prescribing BZD and z-drugs. The long-term use of BZD and z-drugs was significantly associated with unemployment (OR = 2.9, 95% CI [1.2–7.1]) and generally problematic medication use (OR = 0.5, 95% CI [0.2–1.0]). Discussion Unemployment status and problematic medication use had a significant association with the patient-reported, long-term use of BZD and z-drugs. Divergent prescription patterns might suggest problematic patterns of BZD and z-drugs use. The causal connection between the identified factors and problematic BZD and z-drugs prescription is not discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, employment status and possible evidence of general problematic drug use may be a warning signal to the prescribers of BZD and z-drugs.https://peerj.com/articles/4614.pdfz-drugsOlder peoplePsychological and sociodemographic factorsBenzodiazepinesInsomniaUnemployment |
| spellingShingle | Aliaksandra Mokhar Niklas Tillenburg Jörg Dirmaier Silke Kuhn Martin Härter Uwe Verthein Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors PeerJ z-drugs Older people Psychological and sociodemographic factors Benzodiazepines Insomnia Unemployment |
| title | Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors |
| title_full | Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors |
| title_fullStr | Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors |
| title_short | Potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the older population—analysis of associations between long-term use and patient-related factors |
| title_sort | potentially inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and z drugs in the older population analysis of associations between long term use and patient related factors |
| topic | z-drugs Older people Psychological and sociodemographic factors Benzodiazepines Insomnia Unemployment |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/4614.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aliaksandramokhar potentiallyinappropriateuseofbenzodiazepinesandzdrugsintheolderpopulationanalysisofassociationsbetweenlongtermuseandpatientrelatedfactors AT niklastillenburg potentiallyinappropriateuseofbenzodiazepinesandzdrugsintheolderpopulationanalysisofassociationsbetweenlongtermuseandpatientrelatedfactors AT jorgdirmaier potentiallyinappropriateuseofbenzodiazepinesandzdrugsintheolderpopulationanalysisofassociationsbetweenlongtermuseandpatientrelatedfactors AT silkekuhn potentiallyinappropriateuseofbenzodiazepinesandzdrugsintheolderpopulationanalysisofassociationsbetweenlongtermuseandpatientrelatedfactors AT martinharter potentiallyinappropriateuseofbenzodiazepinesandzdrugsintheolderpopulationanalysisofassociationsbetweenlongtermuseandpatientrelatedfactors AT uweverthein potentiallyinappropriateuseofbenzodiazepinesandzdrugsintheolderpopulationanalysisofassociationsbetweenlongtermuseandpatientrelatedfactors |