Jump to content

Study,Jul/19: Factors associated w/long-term prescription of benzodiazepine...


[La...]

Recommended Posts

The full title of this Japanese study is "Factors associated with long-term prescription of benzodiazepine: a retrospective cohort study using a health insurance database in Japan".

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31350250

 

Abstract

 

OBJECTIVES:

 

Current clinical guidelines discourage long-term prescription of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (BZD); however, the practice continues to exist. The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of long-term BZD prescriptions and its risk factors.

 

DESIGN:

 

Retrospective cohort study using a health insurance database.

 

SETTING:

 

Japan.

 

PARTICIPANTS:

 

A total of 86 909 patients were identified as outpatients aged 18 to 65 years who started BZD between 1 October 2012 and 1 April 2015. After excluding patients who underwent surgery on the day of first BZD prescription (n=762) and patients without 8 months follow-up (n=12 103), 74 044 outpatients were analysed.

 

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

 

We investigated the proportion of long-term prescriptions for ≥8 months among new BZD users. We assessed patient demographics, diagnoses, characteristics of the initial BZD prescription and prescribers as potential predictors of the long-term BZD prescription. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between long-term prescription and potential predictors.

 

RESULTS:

 

Of the new BZD users, 6687 (9.0%) were consecutively prescribed BZD for ≥8 months. The long-term prescription was significantly associated with mood and neurotic disorder, cancer, prescription by psychiatrists, multiple prescriptions, hypnotics and medium half-life BZD in the initial prescription.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

Despite the recent clinical guidelines, 9% of new BZD users were given prescriptions for more than 8 months. Physicians should be aware of risk factors when prescribing BZDs for the first time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...