Zolpidem use and motor vehicle collisions in older drivers.
Prescription sleep medication use is most prevalent among women and older adults. Morning drowsiness and impaired coordination are side effects of sleep medications that may affect driving safety. The association between current use of zolpidem-containing medications and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) was evaluated among drivers of advanced age.



Participants were current drivers aged ≥70 years residing in north-central Alabama, spoke English, had a valid driver's license, and had driven within the past three months (n = 2000). Current zolpidem use was determined by pill bottle review. The participant's five-year MVC history was determined from Alabama Department of Public Safety accident reports. The five-year MVC and at-fault MVC rate ratios (RR) were estimated comparing zolpidem users with nonusers in the overall sample and a priori-defined age and sex subgroups.



The unadjusted RR (95% confidence interval [CI]) of MVCs comparing zolpidem users with nonusers was attenuated after adjustment (1.46 [1.02-2.08] and 1.38 [0.97-1.98], respectively). Among women, the unadjusted and adjusted RRs (95% CI) were 1.65 (1.03-2.66) and 1.61 (1.00-2.60), respectively. The unadjusted and adjusted RRs (95% CI) among those aged 80 years or more were 2.24 (1.19-4.57) and 2.35 (1.20-4.61), respectively. There were no statistically significant associations among men or participants less than 80 years old. Similar patterns were present for at-fault MVCs.



Current zolpidem users, specifically women and individuals aged 80 years or more, had higher MVC rates than nonusers. Practitioners should consider behavioral treatment before initiating low doses of zolpidem and increasing it as needed to achieve restorative sleep in women and individuals aged 80 years or more to reduce the risk of zolpidem-associated MVCs.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
John N
JN
Booth
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Michael
M
Behring
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Ryan S
RS
Cantor
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Lisandro D
LD
Colantonio
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Sherri
S
Davidson
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
John P
JP
Donnelly
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Erica
E
Johnson
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Kelsey
K
Jordan
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Chelsea
C
Singleton
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Fenglong
F
Xie
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address: gmcgwin@uabmc.edu.
Gerald
G
McGwin
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000407:Alabama; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem
Ambien; Elderly; Geriatrics; Motor vehicle collisions; Zolpidem