title: [Relationship between benzodiazepines use and falls in the elderly: a multicenter study in three geriatric centers of a university hospital].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benzodiazepines are widely used in the elderly, but may induce potentially severe iatrogenic events like falls. The analysis of their use is difficult because of the numerous molecules and dosages available. The aim of the present study is to build a tool to monitor their consumption and to evaluate the relation between this consumption and patient's falls reported in three geriatric institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conversion coefficients found in the literature allowed the expression of benzodiazepine action with a unique comparator: diazepam. Benzodiazepine consumption observed during 20 consecutive months was collected and weighted by hospital activity. A correlation between benzodiazepine consumption and the number of falls reported during the same period was researched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Benzodiazepine consumption expressed in milligrams of diazepam-equivalent per hospitalization day is significantly linked to the number of falls expressed during the same period (R=0.63; p<0.01). However, no statistical bound was found between monthly falls variations and monthly benzodiazepine consumption variations. These results corroborate others published studies: benzodiazepine consumptions are statistically linked to falls, but the reduction of this consumption is of poor predictive value, maybe because of the multifactorial nature of falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of benzodiazepine consumption in diazepam-equivalent enables one to estimate the general exposition of patients and to compare the use of each molecule. The statistical link between this indicator and a major iatrogenic event like falls makes it a tool worth interest for both clinicians and pharmacists.
authors.affiliation: Service pharmaceutique, hôpital Antoine-Charial, hospices civils de Lyon, groupement hospitalier de gériatrie, Francheville, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhart
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Odouard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maire
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducher
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bourguignon
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003975:Diazepam