J. Ranstam et al., IMPAIRED COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN ELDERLY MEN EXPOSED TO BENZODIAZEPINESOR OTHER ANXIOLYTICS, European journal of public health, 7(2), 1997, pp. 149-152
A representative sample of 68 year old men living in Malmo, Sweden, wa
s investigated concerning use of anxiolytic-hypnotic drugs. The subjec
ts were psychometrically tested using the synonyms, Koh's block design
, paired associates, visual retention, and digit symbol tests. Subject
s with continuous use of anxiolytics, the vast majority of which consi
sted of benzodiazepines, had an increased risk of impaired cognitive f
unction (RR=3.2 and p=0.008). Multivariate adjustments for differences
in education, alcohol habits, exposure to organic solvents and stroke
between users and non-users of anxiolytics did not reduce the estimat
e of risk (RRadj=3.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-8.9). Adjusting for
differences in the number of subjects with a history of depression re
duced the risk estimate slightly (RRadj=2.7; 95% confidence interval:
1.0-7.7) but adjustments for differences in anti-hypertensive and anti
-diabetic medication had no influence. Subjects with occasional use of
anxiolytics and subjects with occasional or continuous use of hypnoti
cs showed no risk increase. Neither selection bias nor information bia
s appeared to explain the findings. Accordingly, increased caution is
warranted when prescribing benzodiazepines for regular anxiolytic use.