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Benzodiazepine use and risk of stroke: A retrospective population‐based cohort study
Author(s) -
Huang WeiShih,
Muo ChihHsin,
Chang ShihNi,
Chang YenJung,
Tsai ChonHaw,
Kao ChiaHung
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12117
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , hazard ratio , proportional hazards model , benzodiazepine , retrospective cohort study , population , comorbidity , cohort study , cohort , lower risk , confidence interval , mechanical engineering , receptor , environmental health , engineering
Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between benzodiazepine ( BZD ) use and risk of incident stroke by utilizing data from 2000 to 2003 from the N ational H ealth I nsurance system of T aiwan. Methods Study subjects consisted of 38 671 patients with new BZD use and 38 663 people without BZD use who were frequency‐matched for age, sex and baseline comorbidity with BZD users. All subjects had no history of stroke. Each study patient's case was followed until a new diagnosis of stroke was made or until the patient was censored by loss to follow up, death, or termination of insurance. The study lasted until the end of 2009. A C ox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the incidences and hazard ratios ( HR ) of stroke. Results The HR of hemorrhagic stroke was significantly lower in the BZD group when compared with the non‐ BZD group. For patients aged 20–39 years, the HR of ischemic stroke was significantly higher in the BZD group when compared with the non‐ BZD group. Compared to the non‐ BZD group, patients with a lower annual dosage (<1 g) or duration (<30 days) of BZD use had a lower risk of stroke in the elder group ( P < 0.0001) and patients with a higher annual dosage (≥ 4 g) or duration (≥ 95 days) of BZD use had a higher risk of stroke in all age groups ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions Our findings may suggest neuroprotection under lower‐dosage BZD use and neurotoxicity under higher‐dosage BZD use.