Chronification in the Use of Benzodiacepines: Incidence Stratified by Sex and Age Groups

OBJECTIVES: Benzodiacepines are drugs used for insomnia and anxiety. The data sheet points that the use of these medication should not exceed 12 weeks. However, the use (and the extent) is high in the general population. Estimating the incidence of those that after being prescribed with a new benzodiacepine becomes a long-user could help to reduce the impact of this issue.

METHODS: Restrospective RWD study using prescription and dispensing data in Catalonia (Spain). The study period is 06/2021 to 12/2022. All patients receiving a new prescription (12 months without another prescribed or dispensed) of benzodiazepine were included. We considered that a patient was taking benzodiacepines for 3 or 6 month (long-users) if the patient had 3 or 6 dispensing registries in the 3 or 6 consecutive months to the new prescription. Analyses were stratified by sex and age groups.

RESULTS: The overall incidence of 3-month and 6-month long users was 1.9% and 1%. The incidence of 3-month and 6-month long users in those prescribed with a new benzodiazepine was 24.7% and 13.3%. The 3-month rates in men and women was 21.4% and 26.7%. The rates increase with age ranging from 5.6% in youngers than 25 years old to 45.2% in older than 75 years old. Rates were similar in both sexes in the younger population but the increase is more pronounced in older women. where rates go from 5.8% to 47.5% (in men go from 5.2% to 40.0%).

CONCLUSIONS: One of every four patients receiving a new prescription of benzodiazepines is using them more time that the maximum recommended in the medication data sheet. These figures increase the worrying problem of the extensive use of benzodiazepines. There is a gender and age edge in this issue affecting specially to the oldest population (where these drugs are not recommended) and women.