Benzodiazepine use and quality of sleep in the community-dwelling elderly population.
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.
Beland
Sarah-Gabrielle
SG
Faculte de Pharmacie, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, G8B 1S5 Canada. sarah-gabrielle.beland@usherbrooke.ca
Preville
Michel
M
Dubois
Marie-France
MF
Lorrain
Dominique
D
Grenier
Sebastien
S
Voyer
Philippe
P
Perodeau
Guilheme
G
Moride
Yola
Y
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
D001569:Benzodiazepines