Key result
Among primary care patients prescribed benzodiazepines, 38.47% used them for longer than six months, with bromazepam being the most frequently prescribed (58.69%).
Why the study?
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed psychotropic drugs often used longer than recommended, prompting this study to determine factors associated with their prescribing at the primary healthcare level.
Observational
Yes
A significant proportion of patients in primary care use benzodiazepines for longer than recommended, highlighting the need for cautious prescribing practices.
Prolonged benzodiazepine use remains common in primary care; hypothesis-generating for deprescribing trials and outcome studies.
Background and Objectives: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among the most prescribed psychotropic drugs and significant number of patients use these drugs for longer periods than recommended. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with prescribing of BZDs at the primary healthcare level. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of family physicians’ prescriptions from the databases of family medicine teams of the Republic of Srpska was performed. The number of BZDs users, as well as the total number of prescriptions, were determined. Thereafter, it was determined which specific BZD had been prescribed, in which dose, for how long, as well as the specific social and demographic characteristics of patients to whom the drugs were prescribed. Results: The results showed that 38.47% of patients used the BZDs for a period longer than six months. The most frequent BZDs prescribed were the intermediate-acting BZDs, primarily bromazepam (58.69%). Two thirds of patients were women. The average age of the patients was 60, 60.46% of patients were single, and 69.68% lived in urban areas. The longer uses of BZDs were recorded in women, the elderly, single people and those who lived in urban areas, while higher doses of BZDs were prescribed to men, as well as younger and married people. The highest positive correlation was found between the dose and length of use of BZD. Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients used BZDs for a time period longer than recommended. Caution is necessary when prescribing BZDs to women, the elderly, patients that live in urban areas and patients who are single. When prescribing BZDs, family physicians should be aware of their potential interactions and addictive potentials.
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Maksimović et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Benzodiazepine use. Benzodiazepine use was evaluated on Use of benzodiazepines for a period longer than six months. Among primary care patients prescribed benzodiazepines, 38.47% used them for longer than six months, with bromazepam being the most frequently prescribed (58.69%).
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