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A systematic review of research examining benzodiazepine‐related mortality
Author(s) -
Charlson Fiona,
Degenhardt Louisa,
McLaren Jennifer,
Hall Wayne,
Lynskey Michael
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/pds.1694
Subject(s) - medicine , benzodiazepine , medical prescription , pharmacoepidemiology , injury prevention , cohort study , population , poison control , retrospective cohort study , human factors and ergonomics , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , demography , psychiatry , emergency medicine , environmental health , pharmacology , receptor , pathology , sociology
Purpose This paper will review literature examining the association of benzodiazepine use and mortality. Methods An extensive literature review was undertaken to locate all English‐language published articles that examine mortality risk associated with use of benzodiazepines from 1990 onwards. Results Six cohort studies meeting the criteria above were identified. The results were mixed. Three of the studies assessed elderly populations and did not find an increased risk of death associated with benzodiazepine use, whereas another study of the general population did find an increased risk, particularly for older age groups. A study of a middle aged population found that regular benzodiazepine use was associated with an increased mortality risk, and a study of ‘drug misusers’ found a significant relationship between regular use of non‐prescribed benzodiazepines and fatal overdose. Three retrospective population‐based registry studies were also identified. The first unveiled a high relative risk (RR) of death due to benzodiazepine poisoning versus other outcomes in patients 60 or older when compared to those under 60. A positive but non‐significant association between benzodiazepine use and driver‐responsible fatalities in on‐road motor vehicle accidents was reported. Drug poisoning deaths in England showed benzodiazepines caused 3.8% of all deaths caused by poisoning from a single drug. Conclusion On the basis of existing research there is limited data examining independent effects of illicit benzodiazepine use upon mortality. Future research is needed to carefully examine risks of use in accordance with doctors' prescriptions and extra‐medical use. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.