title: Benzodiazepine use and quality of sleep in the community-dwelling elderly population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  About 50% of the elderly population report being dissatisfied with their sleep. Although benzodiazepines are the most prescribed drugs to treat sleep complaints, the effectiveness of their use on the quality of sleep is not well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the association between benzodiazepine use and global sleep quality, as well as six components of sleep quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the cross-sectional Quebec Survey on Seniors' Health (n = 2798) conducted in 2005-2006 were used. Quality of sleep was self-reported and use of benzodiazepines was assessed during the previous year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Benzodiazepine users reported poorer quality of sleep than non-users. The association between benzodiazepine use and each of the six quality of sleep components studied were similar except for the daytime dysfunction component.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that there is no evidence that using benzodiazepines is associated with better quality of sleep than non-users in the elderly population. Future longitudinal population-based studies are needed to assess improvements in quality of sleep in the elderly associated with the use of benzodiazepines.
authors.affiliation: Faculte de Pharmacie, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, G8B 1S5 Canada. sarah-gabrielle.beland@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Sarah-Gabrielle
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Beland
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preville
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorrain
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grenier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Voyer
authors.forename: Guilheme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perodeau
authors.forename: Yola
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moride
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D058028:Research Report; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012931:Social Environment
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines