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Benzodiazepine utilization patterns in Alzheimer's disease patients
Rajaa Lagnaoui1, Nicholas Moore, Yola Moride
1Département de Pharmacologie, Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France. rjlagnaoui@hotmail.com
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
|September 30, 2003
Summary
Benzodiazepine (BZD) use is common in Alzheimer's disease patients, with 20% prevalence. Cognitive impairment and increased chronic conditions were linked to decreased BZD use, suggesting varied prescribing patterns.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical pharmacy
Background:
- Benzodiazepines (BZD) are frequently prescribed for elderly individuals.
- Patients with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), face heightened risks for adverse BZD effects like cognitive impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of BZD use in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
- To identify patient and drug-related characteristics associated with BZD prescription in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Data were collected from 5,000 community-dwelling and institutionalized patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease initiating tacrine treatment (Paco cohort).
- Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and BZD usage within three months prior to study inclusion were recorded.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of benzodiazepine use in the three months preceding inclusion was 20%.
- A Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score below 24 showed a non-significant inverse association with BZD use (OR: 0.88).
- An increased number of chronic conditions was significantly associated with decreased BZD use (OR: 0.73), while higher overall drug consumption correlated with increased BZD use (OR: 2.3).
Conclusions:
- Benzodiazepine prescriptions are frequent among individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
- Lower MMSE scores (< 24) were associated with reduced benzodiazepine utilization.
- These findings highlight significant variations in benzodiazepine prescribing patterns within the Alzheimer's disease patient cohort.
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