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Use of benzodiazepines and cognitive performance in primary care patients with first cognitive complaints

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2017

G. Grande ,
I. Tramacere ,
D. L. Vetrano ,
S. Pomati ,
C. Mariani  and
G. Filippini
G. Grande*
Affiliation:
Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, “Luigi Sacco” Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
I. Tramacere
Affiliation:
Unit of Neuroepidemiology, I.R.C.C.S. Foundation, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
D. L. Vetrano
Affiliation:
Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Geriatrics, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
S. Pomati
Affiliation:
Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, “Luigi Sacco” Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
C. Mariani
Affiliation:
Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, “Luigi Sacco” Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
G. Filippini
Affiliation:
Scientific Direction, I.R.C.C.S. Foundation, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Giulia Grande, MD PhD candidate, Aging Research Center | Karolinska Institutet, Gävlegatan 16, 11330 Stockholm, Sweden. Phone: +46 8 690 6853; Fax: +46 8 6906889. Email: giulia.grande@ki.se.
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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of benzodiazepine use on cognitive performance in primary care patients with first cognitive complaints. The association between the exposition to benzodiazepines (short and long half-life) and cognitive performance, evaluated through the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), was tested through analysis of the covariance and logistic regression models. Within the 4,249 participants (mean age 77.0 ± 8.2, 66.4% women), 732 (17%) were on benzodiazepines. When compared with non-users, short- and long-acting benzodiazepine users presented overlapping adjusted MMSE mean scores (respectively, mean MMSE score: 25.3, 95%CI 25.2–25.5; 25.4, 95%CI 25.1–25.7, and 25.9, 95%CI 25.3–26.4; p = 0.156). When tested according to the logistical regression model, after adjusting for potential confounders, no association was found between short and long acting benzodiazepine use and a MMSE < 24 (respectively, OR 0.9, 95%CI 0.7–1.2; OR 0.8, 95%CI 0.7–1.3) as compared with non-users. In conclusion, according to the results of our study, benzodiazepine use seems not to impact on cognitive performance- as assessed with the MMSE- of primary care patients referring to GPs for first cognitive complaints.

Keywords

benzodiazepinesdementiaprimary carecognitive impairmentprevention
Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 4: Issue Theme: Delirium , April 2018 , pp. 597 - 601
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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