RT Journal
A1 Ray WA, Griffin MR, Downey W
T1 BEnzodiazepines of long and short elimination half-life and the risk of hip fracture
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1989
FD December 15
VO 262
IS 23
SP 3303
OP 3307
DO 10.1001/jama.1989.03430230088031
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03430230088031
AB To determine if the risk of hip fracture differed between persons receiving benzodiazepines with long (≥24 hours) or short (<24 hours) elimination half-lives, we conducted a nested case-control study among residents of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan who were 65 years of age and older. We identified 4501 cases occurring between 1977 and 1985 from computerized hospital records and 24 041 population controls. Current benzodiazepine use, defined as having filled a prescription in the past 30 days, was ascertained from computerized pharmacy records. The relative risk of hip fracture was 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 2.0) for current users of long half-life benzodiazepines, in contrast to that of 1.1 (95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 1.3) for current users of short half-life drugs. This finding was not altered by sex, age, calendar year, nursing home residence, or history of hospitalization. Medical record review for a sample of 189 cases suggested that this finding was not due to confounding by dementia, ambulatory status, functional status, or body mass.(JAMA. 1989;262:3303-3307)