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Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Mortality in Individuals Aged 85 Years or Older
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To the Editor: Although benzodiazepines are indicated for only a limited number of psychiatric disorders, they are the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs in elderly individuals.1 Use of benzodiazepines in this population has been related to poor outcomes such as hip fractures, motor vehicle crashes, and suicide,2-4 but it remains unclear to what extent use of benzodiazepines increases the risk of mortality in elderly individuals.5 We investigated the relationship between benzodiazepine use and mortality in a prospective study among individuals aged 85 years or older.
Methods
The Leiden 85-plus Study is a prospective population-based study of all inhabitants of Leiden, the Netherlands, aged 85 years or older. Between September 1, 1997, and September 1, 1999, the study enrolled 599 participants (participation rate = 87%).6 Participants were visited annually at home for face-to-face interviews. The medical ethical committee of the Leiden University Medical Center approved the study and all participants provided oral . . . [Full Text of this Article]
David J. Vinkers, MD, MA;
Jacobijn Gussekloo, MD, PhD
Department of General Internal Medicine
Roos C. van der Mast, MD, PhD;
Frans G. Zitman, MD, PhD
Department of Psychiatry
Rudi G. J. Westendorp, MD, PhD
Department of General Internal Medicine
Leiden University Medical Center
Leiden, the Netherlands
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ABSTRACT
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