Benzodiazepines and hip fractures in elderly people: case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether benzodiazepines are associated with an increased risk of hip fracture.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
All incident cases of hip fracture not related to traffic accidents or cancer in patients over 65 years of age. 245 cases were matched to 817 controls.


METHODS
Emergency department of a university hospital.


METHODS
Exposure to benzodiazepines and other potential risk or protective factors or lifestyle items.


RESULTS
The use of benzodiazepines as determined from questionnaires, medical records, or plasma samples at admission to hospital was not associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (odds ratio 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 1.5). Hip fracture was, however, associated with the use of two or more benzodiazepines, as determined from questionnaires or medical records but not from plasma samples. Of the individual drugs, only lorazepam was significantly associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (1.8, 1.1 to 3.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Except for lorazepam, the presence of benzodiazepines in plasma was not associated with an increased risk of hip fracture. The method used to ascertain exposure could influence the results of case-control studies.
Département de Pharmacologie, Unité de Pharmacologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
C
C
Pierfitte
G
G
Macouillard
M
M
Thicoïpe
A
A
Chaslerie
F
F
Pehourcq
M
M
Aïssou
B
B
Martinez
R
R
Lagnaoui
A
A
Fourrier
B
B
Bégaud
J
J
Dangoumau
N
N
Moore
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008140:Lorazepam