Benzocarta: intervención mínima para la desprescripción de benzodiacepinas en pacientes con insomnio / Benzoletter: minimal intervention for deprescribing benzodiazepines in patients with insomnia

OBJETIVO: Averiguar si una intervención mediante carta dirigida a usuarios de benzodiacepinas consigue disminuir su consumo. MÉTODO: Estudio antes-después sin grupo control realizado en atención primaria en mayo de 2016. A 1.582 pacientes que tomaban una única dosis diaria de una benzodiacepina como hipnótico durante más de 3 meses se les envió una carta personalizada de su médico de familia con información sobre los efectos desfavorables de dicho consumo y la recomendación para retirarlo, con una pauta de descenso escalonada (Benzocarta). Se evaluó el porcentaje de pacientes que cesaron el consumo de benzodiacepinas, el porcentaje que las disminuyeron y la diferencia en la dosis total dispensada (miligramos equivalentes de diazepam dispensados en 3 meses) entre el periodo preintervención y postintervención (a los 6 y 12 meses). RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron datos de dispensaciones de 1.561 pacientes (media de edad: 69,3 años; 74% mujeres). Al año de la intervención, el 22,0% (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]:19,9-24,0) habían abandonado el consumo de benzodiacepinas y el 18,8% (IC95%:16,9-20,8) lo habían disminuido. Se observó una reducción estadísticamente significativa de la dosis total dispensada (media de la diferencia: 89mg; IC95%: 72,2-105,7). CONCLUSIÓN: La Benzocarta se asocia a una disminución relevante en el consumo de hipnóticos. Es una intervención sencilla y factible que puede aplicarse en poblaciones amplias, e incluso de forma repetida en el tiempo. Se requieren estudios controlados para confirmar su eficacia

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a letter-based intervention to patients taking benzodiazepines reduces their consumption. METHOD: A before-after study without control group performed in primary care in May 2016. 1582 patients who took a single daily dose of benzodiazepines as hypnotic for more than 3 months were sent a personalized letter from their family doctor. The letter contained information about the risks of long-term benzodiazepine consumption and the recommendation to discontinue them with a gradual drop protocol (Benzoletter). The percentage of patients who stopped or decreased the use of benzodiazepines, and the difference in the total dose dispensed (mg equivalents of diazepam dispensed in three months) between the pre- and post-intervention period (at 6 and 12 months) were evaluated. RESULTS: Dispensing data from 1561 patients were collected (average age: 69.3 years; 74% women). Twelve months after the intervention, 22.0% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 19.9-24.0) discontinued benzodiazepine consumption and 18.8% (95%CI: 16.9-20.8) reduced their consumption. A statistically significant reduction was observed in the total dose dispensed (mean difference: 89mg; 95%CI: 72.2-105.7). CONCLUSION: The Benzoletter is associated with a significant decrease in the consumption of hypnotics. It is a simple and feasible intervention that allows acting on large populations, and it could even be periodically repeated. Controlled studies are required to confirm its effectiveness

[Benzoletter: minimal intervention for deprescribing benzodiazepines in patients with insomnia]. / Benzocarta: intervención mínima para la desprescripción de benzodiacepinas en pacientes con insomnio.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a letter-based intervention to patients taking benzodiazepines reduces their consumption. METHOD: A before-after study without control group performed in primary care in May 2016. 1582 patients who took a single daily dose of benzodiazepines as hypnotic for more than 3 months were sent a personalized letter from their family doctor. The letter contained information about the risks of long-term benzodiazepine consumption and the recommendation to discontinue them with a gradual drop protocol (Benzoletter). The percentage of patients who stopped or decreased the use of benzodiazepines, and the difference in the total dose dispensed (mg equivalents of diazepam dispensed in three months) between the pre- and post-intervention period (at 6 and 12 months) were evaluated. RESULTS: Dispensing data from 1561 patients were collected (average age: 69.3 years; 74% women). Twelve months after the intervention, 22.0% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 19.9-24.0) discontinued benzodiazepine consumption and 18.8% (95%CI: 16.9-20.8) reduced their consumption. A statistically significant reduction was observed in the total dose dispensed (mean difference: 89mg; 95%CI: 72.2-105.7). CONCLUSION: The Benzoletter is associated with a significant decrease in the consumption of hypnotics. It is a simple and feasible intervention that allows acting on large populations, and it could even be periodically repeated. Controlled studies are required to confirm its effectiveness.