[Benzodiazepine prescription at a health center: prevalence, its use and user characteristics]

To find the prevalence of prescription of benzodiazepines (BDZ) in 1997 at a health centre (HC), and the characteristics of both their consumption and the takers.

Crossover, observational study.

Primary care urban centre.

From a total of 7356 patients over 14 with clinical records and belonging to four lists, a random sample stratified by lists was selected.

A form was used to gather social and demographic data, educational level, family context, linked pathologies, number of visits to HC per year, BDZ prescription and variables defining the kind of consumption.

The prevalence of BDZ prescription was 7.7% (CI, 6-10%). Consumption profile: 33% long BDZ, 31% intermediate and 33% short. 44% consumed BDZ occasionally or for less than 2 weeks, and 42% had been taking it for over a year. For 56% (95% CI, 40-70) their G.P. was the origin of the prescription. The reason for the prescription was not specified in 42% of cases. The variables which defined the profile of the consumers, included in the logistic regression, were: sex, number of visits and linked pathologies, whose OR were: 1.57 (CI, 1.08-2.03), 1.11 (CI, 1.06-1.17) and 1.61 (CI, 1.04-2.05).

The prevalence of BDZ prescription during 1997 in the population seen at our clinics was very similar to the figures found in other studies, with higher annual consumption averages and without the reason for taking it being specified in half the cases. The profile of BDZ takers was: mainly women, people with linked pathologies, and as a function of the number of attendances.