benzodiazepinicos3

ARTIGO ARTICLE

O uso prolongado de benzodiazepínicos em mulheres de um centro de convivência para idosos
Long-term benzodiazepine use in women at a daycare center for older people

Gisele Huf 1
Claudia de Souza Lopes
Suely Rozenfeld 3

1 Coordenação de
Fiscalização Sanitária,
Secretaria de Estado de Saúde.
Rua México 128, 7 o andar,
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
20030-142, Brasil. [e-mail] 2 Instituto de Medicina
Social, Departamento de
Epidemiologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.
Rua São Francisco Xavier
524, 7 o andar,
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
20559-900, Brasil. [e-mail] 3 Departamento de
Epidemiologia, Escola
Nacional de Saúde Pública,
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.
Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480,
8 o andar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
21045-900, Brasil. [e-mail] 2

Abstract While experts recommend caution against long-term benzodiazepine use in the elderly, survey data suggests that the use of benzodiazepine increase with age. The patterns of benzodiazepine use and factors associated with long-term use in population at risk were studied with a standarlized questionnaire applied to 634 women over 60, who attended a daycare center for older people in Rio de Janeiro between May, 1992 and December, 1995. Prevalence of benzodiazepine use in the last 15 days was 21.3% (CI 95% 18.1-24.5), and prevalence of daily use for 12 or more months was 7.4% (CI 95% 5.4-9.4). In a multivaried analysis the amount of drugs being consumed displayed an important and progressive association with long-term benzodiazepine use, with OR = 2.77 (CI 95% 1.17-6.57) for those who take from four to six drugs, and OR = 7.62
(CI 95% 3.18-18.26) for those who take more than seven drugs. Insomnia (OR = 8.87 CI 95% 2.5331.06) and chronic headache (OR = 3.53 CI 95% 1.82-6.89) have also been associated with this pattern of use.
Key words Benzodiazepine; Drug Utilization; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies
Resumo Apesar das recomendações contra o uso prolongado de benzodiazepínicos em idosos,
as