Use of hypnotics among patients in geriatric institutions

A survey of hypnotic use in geriatric institutions outside hospitals was pe rformed in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The data were obtained from the carder system in 67 institutions and represented administration of hypnoti cs to th patients on 3 separate days within a week. About 24% of 2802 patie nts in the institutions used hypnotics. The number of patients treated with hypnotics, the doses administrated and the time of administration were sim ilar for weekends and workdays. About 98% of the hypnotics were used as sch eduled, and 41% of the doses administrated were higher than the recommended lowest dose for elderly patients. Long-acting benzodiazepines constituted about 62% of the hypnotics. A significantly higher proportion of patients i n old age homes used hypnotics compared to patients in nursing homes (30.7% versus 22.9%, respectively, p < 0.01). Furthermore, higher doses, administ ration Inter in the evening and use of additional hypnotics were more commo n in old age homes compared to nursing homes. The results indicate a need f or frequent reevaluation of prescribing of hypnotics in geriatric instituti ons. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.