Use of benzodiazepines and z-drugs not compliant with guidelines and associated factors: a population-based study.

Benzodiazepines and z-drugs are primarily indicated for the treatment of sleep disorders and anxiety symptoms. Their frequent long-term use contrasts with the international guidelines that limit treatment duration to a maximum of 4 weeks. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of their use that was not in accordance with guidelines in the French general population between 2007 and 2012 and associated characteristics. A cohort of 67,550 benzodiazepine new users was set up in an exhaustive database for health-care reimbursements and representative of the French population. Benzodiazepine use not in accordance with guidelines was defined as the concomitant dispensation of several benzodiazepines, the dispensation of treatment over a period longer than recommended, or a new dispensing within the 2 months following the end of a previous treatment of maximum recommended duration, considering that French recommendations distinguish between hypnotic (4 weeks) and anxiolytic benzodiazepines (12 weeks). Benzodiazepine use not in accordance with guidelines was high, in about 30% of new hypnotic users and 20% of new anxiolytic users. Its frequency was stable over the study period. Associated characteristics were similar for new hypnotic or anxiolytic users, i.e.. older age, treatment initiation by a psychiatrist, presence of a chronic disease, hospitalization, or another psychotropic treatment. These findings provide a solid basis for establishing a public health policy to reduce benzodiazepine use not compliant with guidelines. They should be further explored in patients most at risk in the present study, e.g., patients treated by a psychiatrist.

Antipsychotics use: 2006-2013 trends in prevalence and incidence and characterization of users.

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to describe antipsychotic (AP) prevalent and incident use, characteristics of AP users, and their trends in the French population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was repeated yearly from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2013 (for prevalence analysis) or to December 31, 2012 (for incidence analysis) using the French Health Insurance reimbursement database (Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires, EGB). For each year studied, prevalent and incident AP users were described in terms of age and gender overall, and according to the type of AP (FGAPs or SGAPs) used at index date. In addition, concurrent medications and comorbidities that a priori contraindicate the use of drugs having atropinic properties were researched. RESULTS: Prevalence and incidence remained relatively stable along the 2007-2013 period. Trends slightly decreased, from 2.07% (n = 10,252) to 2.05% (n = 11,015) for prevalence, and from 0.73% (n = 3461) to 0.66% (n = 3363) for incidence, especially in elderly, in contrast of children and adolescents (+ 39% for prevalence, from 184 to 271). The number of coprescribed drugs was found high (median = 5) and remained constant over time. In 2013, about 7% of prevalent AP users presented with a comorbidity increasing the risk of atropinic ADRs, and 36% used at least one concurrent atropinic drug. In incident AP users, these numbers were of 8 and 29%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlighted a marked shift from FGAPs toward SGAPs, as well as an increase in AP use in children and adolescents in France.

Comorbidities and concurrent medications increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions: prevalence in French benzodiazepine users.

PURPOSE: To estimate benzodiazepine prevalence of use and to quantify, in benzodiazepine users, the prevalence of comorbidities and concurrent medications increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). METHODS: Cross-sectional study performed using data from the French national healthcare insurance system. The prevalence of use was estimated by considering as users, patients who had at least one benzodiazepine reimbursement during the year 2013. Patients at increased risk for benzodiazepine ADRs were those who had (i) drug-drug interactions at risk for central nervous system and respiratory depression and (ii) comorbidities at risk for adverse respiratory effects, or for falls or fractures. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of benzodiazepine use in 2013 was estimated to be 13.8 %; it was higher among women and increased with age. This prevalence was 10.6 % for anxiolytic benzodiazepines, and 6.1 % for hypnotic benzodiazepines. Approximately half of the benzodiazepine users (48.1 %) were at increased risk for benzodiazepine ADRs; this proportion increased with age. Drug-drug interactions represented the most prevalent condition (39.3 % of benzodiazepine users). The drugs most frequently involved were opioids: analgesics (15.9 %) and antitussives (6.8 %). Overall, 11.3 % of benzodiazepine users had comorbidities at increased risk for adverse respiratory effects (13.9 % in those aged 65-79), and 7.0 % comorbidities at increased risk for falls or fractures (13.4 % in those aged ≥80). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that benzodiazepine use remained high in France, and that roughly half of the users presented with comorbidities and concurrent medications increasing the risk of ADRs. These findings are of concern, given that benzodiazepines are frequently used, and especially among the elderly.

Incidence of hospital admissions due to adverse drug reactions in France: the EMIR study.

To assess the incidence of hospital admissions related to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in France and the frequency of preventable ADRs in France, a prospective study was conducted among a representative randomly selected sample of medical wards in public hospitals between December 2006 and June 2007; all patients admitted during a 2-week period were included. An ADR-related hospitalization case was defined as a hospital admission because of an ADR, and an independent committee reviewed and validated all potential cases. Preventability was assessed using the French ADR preventability scale. Data were extrapolated to the population of France. Among 2692 admissions, 97 were related to an ADR (incidence 3.6%, 95% confidence interval, CI [2.8-4.4]). Patients admitted for an ADR were significantly older than those admitted for other reasons (P < 0.001). A third (32.0%) of ADR-related hospitalizations were 'preventable', 16.5% 'potentially preventable'. Drug interactions accounted for 29.9% of ADR-related hospitalizations. The most frequent causes of ADR-related hospitalizations were vascular disorders (20.6%), mainly bleeding complications, central nervous system disorders (11.3%), gastrointestinal disorders, and general disorders (9.3%). Antithrombotic and antineoplastic agents were the most frequently involved (12.6% each), followed by diuretics and analgesics (9.0% each). Vitamin-K-antagonists (VKAs) were the most common drugs associated with admission. The estimated annual number of ADR-related hospitalizations in France was 143 915 (95% CI [112 063-175 766]). ADRs were a significant cause of hospital admission in 2006-2007, in particular those due to VKAs. As new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been marketed, more attention needs to be paid to ensure a safe use of antithrombotic agents.