Background: In France, general practitioners (GPs) prescribe benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (BZD/ZDs) widely, and especially to older adults. Several characteristics of patients and/or GPs linked to BZD/ZD overprescription have been described in the general population but not among older patients in primary care.
Objectives: To estimate the proportion of GP consultations by patients aged 65 and over that resulted in a BZD/ZD prescription, and determine whether any GP-related factors predicted BZD/ZD overprescription in this setting.
Methods: We analyzed sociodemographic and practice-related GP characteristics, and aggregated data on consultations recorded prospectively by 117 GPs in a database between 2000 and 2010. Next, we used logistic regression models to look for factors potentially associated with BZD/ZD overprescription (defined as an above-median prescription rate).
Results: The GPs' mean age at inclusion was 47.4 (7.1), and 87.9% were male. During the study period, the median (95% confidence interval) proportion of consultations with patients aged 65 and over resulting in a BZD/ZD prescription was 21.8% (18.1-26.1) (range per GP: 5-34.1%). In a multivariable analysis, a greater number of chronic disease (OR [95% CI] = 2.10 [1.22-3.64]), a greater number of drugs prescribed per consultation (5.29 [2.72-10.28]), and shorter study participation were independently associated with BZD/ZD overprescription.
Conclusions: BZD/ZD overprescription was associated with a greater chronic disease burden and the number of drugs prescribed per consultation but not with any sociodemographic or practice-related GP characteristics. Targeted actions are needed to help GPs limit their prescription of BZD/ZDs to older patients with multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy.
Keywords: aged; benzodiazepines; cohort studies; general practice; hypnotics and sedatives; inappropriate prescriptions.
In France, general practitioners (GPs) prescribe benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (BZD/ZDs) widely, and especially to older adults. Even though BZD/ZDs may not have a favorable risk–benefit ratio in older patients, we lack data on GP-related factors that might influence BZD/ZD overprescription in our population. The objectives of the present study were to (i) estimate the proportion of GP consultations by patients aged 65 and over that resulted in a BZD/ZD prescription and (ii) identify GP-related factors that were predictive of overprescription. To achieve this goal, we analyzed consultation notes registered by 117 GPs in a database curated by the French Society of General Practice between 2000 and 2010. About 22% of consultations by patients aged 65 and over resulted in a BZD/ZD prescription. With regard to the GPs, we did not find any sociodemographic or practice-related characteristics associated with overprescription. A greater chronic disease burden and the number of drug prescriptions (other than BZD/ZDs) per consultation was independently associated with overprescription. Targeted actions are therefore needed to help GPs limit their prescription of BZD/ZDs in older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
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