Benzodiazepine utilization patterns in Alzheimer's disease patients.
BACKGROUND
Benzodiazepines (BZD) are commonly prescribed in the elderly. Persons with dementia may be at a greater risk of adverse reactions of BZD such as cognitive impairment.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of BZD use in Alzheimer's disease patients and to examine patient and drug-characteristics associated with this use.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Five thousand community-dwelling and institutionalized patients initiating a treatment with tacrine for a mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and included in the tacrine-study (Paco cohort).


METHODS
Patient characteristics and BZD use recorded at the inclusion.


RESULTS
Use of BZD during the 3 months prior to inclusion.


RESULTS
The 3-month prevalence of ever use of BZD was 20%. After controlling for age and gender, there was a non-significant inverse association between BZD use and a score of Mini-Mental Status Evaluation (MMSE) below 24 (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.71-1.09), and significant inverse association with an increased number of chronic conditions (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58-0.91). Higher use of BZD was associated with higher level of overall drug consumption (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.97-2.80).


CONCLUSIONS
Alzheimer's disease patients are frequently prescribed BZD. A low score of MMSE (< 24) is associated with a decreased use of BZD. These results suggest important differences in BZD use patterns among persons with Alzheimer's disease.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013619:Tacrine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D013619:Tacrine