Factors associated with long-term prescription of benzodiazepine: a retrospective cohort study using a health insurance database in Japan.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES:Current clinical guidelines discourage long-term prescription of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (BZD); however, the practice continues to exist. The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of long-term BZD prescriptions and its risk factors. DESIGN:Retrospective cohort study using a health insurance database. SETTING:Japan. PARTICIPANTS:A total of 86 909 patients were identified as outpatients aged 18 to 65 years who started BZD between 1 October 2012 and 1 April 2015. After excluding patients who underwent surgery on the day of first BZD prescription (n=762) and patients without 8 months follow-up (n=12 103), 74 044 outpatients were analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:We investigated the proportion of long-term prescriptions for ≥8 months among new BZD users. We assessed patient demographics, diagnoses, characteristics of the initial BZD prescription and prescribers as potential predictors of the long-term BZD prescription. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between long-term prescription and potential predictors. RESULTS:Of the new BZD users, 6687 (9.0%) were consecutively prescribed BZD for ≥8 months. The long-term prescription was significantly associated with mood and neurotic disorder, cancer, prescription by psychiatrists, multiple prescriptions, hypnotics and medium half-life BZD in the initial prescription. CONCLUSION:Despite the recent clinical guidelines, 9% of new BZD users were given prescriptions for more than 8 months. Physicians should be aware of risk factors when prescribing BZDs for the first time.

journal_name

BMJ Open

journal_title

BMJ open

authors

Takano A,Ono S,Yamana H,Matsui H,Matsumoto T,Yasunaga H,Kawakami N

doi

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029641

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2019-07-26 00:00:00

pages

e029641

issue

7

issn

2044-6055

pii

bmjopen-2019-029641

journal_volume

9

pub_type

杂志文章

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