The effect of benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine prescriptions for diabetes mellitus type 2 in elderly Taiwanese with depressive symptoms.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the relationship between depression, benzodiazepine (BZD)/nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (non-BZD), and other risk factors in a national sample of Taiwan's elderly diabetic patients.


METHODS
Data were drawn from the 2005 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey and adults aged 65 years and older. A total of 1331 subjects were included in this study. The Chinese version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to evaluate patients' depression symptoms.


RESULTS
The rates of depression in the diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM groups were 13.5% (39/288) and 9.8% (102/1043) and the average ages were 73.7 and 73.4 years, respectively. In multivariate regression, the odds ratio of depression was 1.66-fold higher among BZD/non-BZD users (95% confidence interval: 1.10-2.51, model 2) than among those without BZD/non-BZD use. In addition, hyperlipidaemia, poor physical function, and antidepressant use were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, a monthly household income of NT$30 000-NT$49 999, exercise, and betel chewing were associated with a lower risk of depression. We performed an additional logistic analysis for which the odds ratio of depression significantly increased to 1.52 in non-DM elderly patients (95% confidence interval: 1.06-2.19) who were prescribed BZD/non-BZD. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the odds ratio of depression in the DM elderly regardless of BZD/non-BZD use, although there was a slight tendency for depression among those who used BZD/non-BZD.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression in non-DM Taiwanese elderly patients was found to be associated with BZD/non-BZD use, whereas depression in DM Taiwanese elderly patients was not found to be associated with BZD/non-BZD use.
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Departments of Pharmacy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Min-Ling
ML
Tsai
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chien-Ning
CN
Huang
Departments of Pharmacy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yung-Rung
YR
Lai
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Horng-Rong
HR
Chang
School of Health Policy and Management, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Jeng-Yuan
JY
Chiou
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines
aged; benzodiazepines; depression; diabetes mellitus; hypnotics; sedatives