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Gender differences in benzodiazepines prescription in old age patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

M. Martinez-Cengotitabengoa ,
A. Besga ,
C. Bermudez-Ampudia ,
A. Garcia-Alocen ,
I. Gonzalez-Ortega ,
M.P. Lopez ,
M.J. Diaz ,
N. Chicote ,
J. Enriquez  and
A. Abrain
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M. Martinez-Cengotitabengoa*
Affiliation:
CIBERSAM-University Hospital of Alava- National Distance Education University, Psychiatry, Vitoria, Spain
A. Besga
Affiliation:
CIBERSAM-University Hospital of Alava, Psychiatry, Vitoria, Spain
C. Bermudez-Ampudia
Affiliation:
CIBERSAM-University Hospital of Alava, Psychiatry, Vitoria, Spain
A. Garcia-Alocen
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Psychiatry, Vitoria, Spain
I. Gonzalez-Ortega
Affiliation:
CIBERSAM-University Hospital of Alava, Psychiatry, Vitoria, Spain
M.P. Lopez
Affiliation:
CIBERSAM-University Hospital of Alava, Psychiatry, Vitoria, Spain
M.J. Diaz
Affiliation:
Community Pharmacist, Getxo, Vizcaya, Spain
N. Chicote
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
J. Enriquez
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
A. Abrain
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
R. Olles
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
S. Esnal
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
H. Salem
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
E. Cuesta
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Departmen, Vitoria, Spain
M. Duenas
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Alava, Emergency Deparment, Vitoria, Spain
A. Gonzalez-Pinto
Affiliation:
CIBERSAM-University Hospital of Alava- Universidad del País Vasco, Psychiatry-Neurosciences, Vitoria, Spain
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Objectives

To assess the prescription of benzodiazepines (BZD) in elderly patients, and to explore any gender differences.

Methods

Six hundred and fifty-four patients (≥ 65) admitted in an emergency service of a general hospital due to a fall. BZD use information was collected (dose, half-life profile).

Results

BZD are significantly more prescribed to women (47.6%) than men (36.1%) (X2 = 8.097, P = 0.004). We conducted a logistic regression analysis using as dependent variable taking or not BZD and sex as the independent one, covariating the model by age. We noted that sex remains significant despite enter the age variable in the model (OR = 1.5, P = 0.013). A total of 21.6% of patients consumed intermediate or long half-life BZDs, appearing a greater tendency to prescribe such BZD to women (X2 = 3.606, P = 0.058). In the 58.0% of prescriptions, prescribed dose was higher than the recommended for the elderly. The percentage is significantly higher for men (70.0%) than women (53.1%). Furthermore, a total of 54 prescriptions (15.8%) were even higher than the recommended adult dose, with no significant differences between men and women.

Conclusions

We found evidence of a higher prescription of BZD in women independently of age. Despite not being recommended, prescription of intermediate or long half-life BZD continues, in a slightly higher manner in women. BZD are prescribed above the recommended dose for elderly in a large number of patients, especially in men. A considerable proportion of elderly patients (15.8%) consume BZD doses even higher than the recommended for adults.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
EW630
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 33 , Issue S1: Abstracts of the 24th European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2016 , pp. s279
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2014
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