BENZODIAZEPINES AND HIP FRACTURE - THE NEW-YORK-STATE EXPERIENCE

We assessed rates of hip fracture before and after the institution of the triplicate prescription policy for benzodiazepines in New York Sta te. All patients 55 years of age or older who had a diagnosis of hip f racture between January 1, 1986, and June 30, 1991, were considered fo r the study. Patients with severe trauma, neoplasm, arthritis, or seco nd admission were excluded. Rates of hip fracture were calculated for each quarter by age and gender. Benzodiazepine prescribing began to, d ecline immediately after the triplicate prescription regulation went i nto effect on January 1, 1989. However, yearly rates of hip fracture f or women (men) greater-than-or-equal-to 75 years of age per 1000 peopl e adjusted for New York population changes remained stable at 13.8 (6. 5), 12.6 (5.7), 14.7 (6.7), 14.8 (6.4), 14.4 (6.3), and 14.4 (6.7), fr om 1986 through the first two quarters of 1991. Regression analyses sh owed no before or after regulation trend in the rate of hip fracture. We conclude that no dramatic declines in the rate of hip fractures amo ng people older than 55 years of age have been observed in association with the benzodiazepine regulations and decreased benzodiazepine pres cribing.