Benzodiazepines and hip fracture: the New York State experience

We assessed rates of hip fracture before and after the institution of the triplicate prescription policy for benzodiazepines in New York State. All patients 55 years of age or older who had a diagnosis of hip fracture between January 1, 1986, and June 30, 1991, were considered for the study. Patients with severe trauma, neoplasm, arthritis, or second admission were excluded. Rates of hip fracture were calculated for each quarter by age and gender. Benzodiazepine prescribing began to decline immediately after the triplicate prescription regulation went into effect on January 1, 1989. However, yearly rates of hip fracture for women (men) > or = 75 years of age per 1000 people adjusted for New York population changes remained stable at 13.8 (6.5), 12.6 (5.7), 14.7 (6.7), 14.8 (6.4), 14.4 (6.3), and 14.4 (6.7), from 1986 through the first two quarters of 1991. Regression analyses showed no before or after regulation trend in the rate of hip fracture. We conclude that no dramatic declines in the rate of hip fractures among people older than 55 years of age have been observed in association with the benzodiazepine regulations and decreased benzodiazepine prescribing.