Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2022 Dec;34(12):3145-3149.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02237-2. Epub 2022 Sep 20.

Z-drugs and falls in nursing home patients: data from the INCUR study

Sarah Damanti  1 , Moreno Tresoldi  2 , Philipe de Souto Barreto  3   4 , Yves Rolland  3   4 , Matteo Cesari  5   6
Affiliations
Observational Study

Z-drugs and falls in nursing home patients: data from the INCUR study

Sarah Damanti et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Z-drugs are the most prescribed treatment for insomnia, but their negative effect on the body sway can increase the risk of falls.

Aims: Evaluating the association between Z-drugs and falls in a resident cohort.

Methods: Prospective observational study using the data collected in the Incidence of pNeumonia and related ConseqUences in nursing home Residents (INCUR) study.

Results: During the one-year follow-up, among the 800 participants (median age 87), 93 individuals fell (64 fracturing and 29 without fracturing). Lower calf circumference (adjusted OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.97, p = 0.006) and the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (adjusted OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.1-3.05, p = 0.01) predicted falls, whereas the use of Z-drugs (adjusted OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.13-4.94, p = 0.02) and lower body mass index (adjusted OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.84-0.97, p = 0.005) were associated with falls without fractures.

Conclusions: Z-drugs predicted falls without fractures in residents. Alternative strategies to promote sleep in residents should be pursued.

Keywords: Falls; Residents; Z-drugs.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. De Souto BP, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Mathieu C et al (2013) Indicators of benzodiazepine use in nursing home residents in France: a cross-sectional study. J Am Med Dir Assoc 14:29–33 - DOI
    1. Aronson J (2009) Hypnosedatives. Meyler’s side effects of psychiatric drugs. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 375–450
    1. Berry SD, Lee Y, Cai S et al (2013) Nonbenzodiazepine sleep medication use and hip fractures in nursing home residents. JAMA Intern Med 173:754–761 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Demougeot L, Rolland Y, Gérard S et al (2013) Incidence and economical effects of pneumonia in the older population living in French nursing homes: design and methods of the INCUR study. BMC Public Health 17:861 - DOI
    1. Damanti S, Ramirez GA, Da Prat V et al (2022) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and fractures in older nursing home residents: data from the INCUR study. Maturitas. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.11.012 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources