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Benzodiazepines utilization in Brazilian older adults: a population-based study
Marina de Borba Oliveira Freire1, Bruna Gonçalves Cordeiro Da Silva2, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi2
1Universidade Federal de Pelotas . Faculdade de Medicina . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia . Pelotas , RS , Brasil.
Revista De Saude Publica
|March 23, 2022
Summary
Benzodiazepine (BZD) use is high among Brazilian older adults, especially women and those with depression. This study highlights significant regional and sex disparities in BZD utilization.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychopharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Benzodiazepines (BZD) are frequently prescribed for older adults, but their use in this population requires careful consideration due to potential risks.
- The Pesquisa Nacional de Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM) provides valuable data on medication use in Brazil.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and patterns of benzodiazepine (BZD) utilization among Brazilian older adults.
- To identify factors associated with BZD use in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study using data from the PNAUM survey (2013-2014) of 9,019 Brazilian individuals aged 60 years and older.
- Hierarchical Poisson regression analysis to determine prevalence ratios (PR) for BZD utilization.
- Data collected via semistructured household interviews.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of BZD utilization was 9.3% in older adults.
- Associated factors included female sex (PR=1.88), depression (PR=5.31), multimorbidity (PR=1.44), recent healthcare utilization (PR=1.42), polypharmacy (PR=1.26), and poor self-rated health (PR=4.16).
- Lower utilization was observed in the North region (PR=0.18) and among those with abusive alcohol consumption (PR=0.42).
Conclusions:
- Despite contraindications, benzodiazepine utilization remains high in Brazilian older adults.
- Depression, female sex, and multimorbidity are significant predictors of BZD use.
- Substantial regional and sex-based disparities in BZD utilization warrant further investigation and targeted interventions.
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