title: Benzodiazepine use among elderly patients presenting at the emergency room.
abstract: This study evaluated the prevalence of benzodiazepine intake by elderly patients presenting at the emergency room of a university hospital. Of 388 patients, 42.5% used one or more benzodiazepine (BZD) drugs in the week prior to admission. There were significantly more women among the BZD users (P < 0.05). Mean duration of intake was long (62 months), but daily dosage was adjusted to age. Of the BZD using patients, 27% took a BZD with long elimination half life. No relationship was found between the BZD intake and the occurrence of falls. Fallers were significantly older (P = 0.019) and were more often women (P = 0.046).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital, Free University of Brussels-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mets
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corne