Trends and patterns of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs prescriptions in Australian general practice: A national study (2011-2018).

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

We aimed to explore trends and sociodemographic patterns in benzodiazepine (BZD) (by half-life) and Z-drugs prescribing in Australian general practice.

Methods

This open cohort study used de-identified electronic health records of 1.4 million patients (50,812,413 consultations) from 402 Australian practices (MedicineInsight 2011-2018). Annual prescribing frequency and changes over time were estimated according to sex, age, socioeconomic position and rurality.

Results

Between 2011 and 2018, the prescribing of very short-acting BZD increased from 0.10 to 0.29 per 1000 consultations (average annual change +17.2% [95% CI 9.6; 25.3]), while it declined for short-intermediate (from 38.5 to 26.6 per 1000 consultations; annual change -5.1% [95% CI -5.6; -4.5]), l

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Chica D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10092554 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature