Annemarie Kim Kozole Smid, Faculty of Arts, Koroška street 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia,
Croat Med J. 2024 Apr 30;65(2):146-155. doi: 10.3325/cmj.2024.65.146.
To review the literature data on the prevalence of benzodiazepines abuse and poisoning in older adults; the prevalence of polypharmacy with benzodiazepines in this demographic; and determine whether benzodiazepine anxiolytics or hypnotics were more frequently implicated in the cases of abuse and poisoning.
We searched PubMed and Scopus for relevant studies published from January 1, 2013, to May 1, 2023. Twelve studies were included in the final selection.
The review highlights the diverse prevalence rates of benzodiazepine abuse and poisoning in the older adult population. Benzodiazepine anxiolytics were more frequently associated with negative outcomes than benzodiazepine hypnotics. Concurrent use of benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-related medications, and opioids was reported, although these medications were not the only ones commonly used by the elderly.
It is essential to increase awareness about adhering to prescribed pharmacological therapies to mitigate issues related to drug abuse and poisoning among older adults.
回顾老年人中苯二氮䓬类药物滥用和中毒的流行率；该人群中与苯二氮䓬类药物联合用药的流行率；并确定苯二氮䓬类抗焦虑药或催眠药是否更频繁地与滥用和中毒有关。
我们在 PubMed 和 Scopus 上搜索了 2013 年 1 月 1 日至 2023 年 5 月 1 日发表的相关研究。最终选择了 12 项研究进行分析。
本综述强调了老年人中苯二氮䓬类药物滥用和中毒的流行率存在差异。与苯二氮䓬类催眠药相比，苯二氮䓬类抗焦虑药与不良后果更相关。尽管这些药物并非老年人唯一常用药物，但报告了同时使用苯二氮䓬类药物、苯二氮䓬类相关药物和阿片类药物的情况。
提高对遵守处方药理学治疗的认识对于减轻老年人药物滥用和中毒相关问题至关重要。
