Benzodiazepines Raise Mortality Risk in Alzheimer Patients

Benzodiazepine and related drug (BZDR) use was associated with increased mortality risk in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), according to the results of a recent study.

For their study, the researchers used data from 70,718 community-dwelling Finns diagnosed with AD from 2005 to 2011 from the register-based MEDALZ cohort. In order to examine only new users, those who with any BZDR use during the year before AD diagnosis were excluded.
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The researchers matched individuals initiating BZDR use (n=10,380) with 2 nonusers (n=20,760) by age, gender, and time since AD diagnosis. The main outcome of the study was 180-day mortality.

During follow-up, 5 excess deaths per 100 person-years occurred during BZDR use compared with nonuse. Mortality rates were 13.4 for those using BZDR and 8.5 for those not using BZDR.

BZDR use was associated with increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.4), and the association was significant from initiation of use. Benzodiazepine use was associated with an increased risk of death, while benzodiazepine-related drug use was not.

“Benzodiazepine and related drug use was associated with an increased risk of death in persons with AD. Our results support treatment guidelines stating that nonpharmacological approaches should be the first-line option for symptomatic treatment of AD.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Saarelainen L, Tolppanen A, Koponen M, et al. Risk of death associated with new benzodiazepine use among persons with Alzheimer disease: A matched cohort study [published online November 15, 2017]. Geriatric Psychiatry. doi:10.1002/gps.4821.