Trends, correlates, and disease patterns of sedative-hypnotic use among elderly persons in Taiwan

Abstract

Objective The population-based National Health Insurance database was adopted to investigate the prevalence, correlates, and disease patterns of sedative-hypnotic use in elderly persons in Taiwan. Methods The National Health Research Institutes provided a database of 1,000,000 random subjects in the National Health Insurance program. We adopted this sample of subjects who were older than 65 years from 1997 to 2005 and examined the proportions of psychiatric and nonpsychiatric disorders with regard to sedative-hypnotic use. Results The 1-year prevalence of sedative-hypnotic use in elderly individuals increased from 1.7% in 1997 to 5.5% in 2005. The 1-year prevalence rates of benzodiazepine (BZD) and non-BZD hypnotics were 3.2 and 3.1%, respectively, in 2005. The overall hypnotic use was highest in ≥85-year-olds, males, those with lower amounts of insurance or higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores and those living in eastern Taiwan. Both BZD and non-BZD hypnotic use were most commonly used in nonpsychiatric disorders instead of psychiatric disorders. Among the psychiatric disorders, the disorders that accounted for higher BZD and non-BZD hypnotic use were senile and presenile organic psychotic conditions (3.4 and 3.4%, respectively). Higher BZD and non-BZD use was for diseases of the respiratory system (30.4 and 17.8%, respectively), the circulatory system (20.4 and 22.4%, respectively), and neoplasms (12.6 and 13.8%, respectively). Conclusion The prevalence rates of both BZD and non-BZD sedative-hypnotic use increased from 1997 to 2005 in the elderly. The risk factors for sedative-hypnotic use were aging, male sex, lower insurance amount, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. Most BZD and non-BZD sedative-hypnotic users were persons with nonpsychiatric disorders.

Sedative load and anticholinergic burden among older adults in Slovenia over a decade: Potential for optimization of pharmacotherapy

“…In addition, higher prevalence is noted among institutionalized residents versus community-dwelling older adults (25)(26)(27). Despite such challenges, several studies (24,25,28,29) found increasing trends up until 2005 or 2015, with more recent investigations showing declining patterns of use over the past decade for benzodiazepines (26,(30)(31)(32), psychotropics (27,33), and atropinic medications (34).…”

“…Few studies have examined the trends in overall sedative load, but several studies have focused on specific groups of sedative medications (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)33). These studies generally reported increasing trends until around 2010, followed by decreasing trends in the subsequent decade.…”

Hypnotics Use Is Associated with Elevated Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis of Cohort Study

“…Hypnotic drugs are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of psychotropic drugs [ 3 ], consisting of traditional benzodiazepines (BZDs) and new generational nonbenzodiazepines (non-BZDs), colloquially as Z-drugs [ 4 ]. The traditional BZDs including diazepam, lorazepam, triazolam, oxazepam, and midazolam, are widely used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, while prescriptions of the non-BZDs, including zaleplon, zopiclone, and zolpidem, have been greatly promoted over BZDs, because of their superior safety as a short-acting hypnotic drug.…”

Correction: Trends, correlates, and disease patterns of sedative-hypnotic use among elderly persons in Taiwan

“…Following the publication of the original article [ 1 ], the authors identified that the funding note was incorrect. The correct funding note is given below.…”