Relationship between the use of benzodiazepines and falls in older adults: a systematic review
Abstract
Falls in the elderly represent a major health problem. The etiology of falls is usually multifactorial. Special attention should be paid on benzodiazepines (BZDs) since they are widely used by older adults. A literature search of the PUBMED and EMBASE databases from January 2007 to February 2017 was conducted using the MeSH terms "benzodiazepines", "elderly" and "falls" or "accidental falls". The systematic review was performed according to PRISMA criteria. Of the 27 references selected for full reading from 235 found, 15 were eliminated and 12 papers were selected for systematic review. Exposure to BZDs was associated with a higher risk of falls in older adults, which is consistent with the results reported in the literature and previous reviews and meta-analyses. BZDs increase the risk of falling when used either as monotherapy or in combined therapies. It is preferable to use short-acting BZDs, to avoid cumulative effects over time predisposing to falls. A high proportion of falls in older adults are related to the use of BZDs. They should be prescribed to older patients in accordance with current clinical guidelines and reviewed over time. BZDs should be prescribed as a short-term therapy and progressively withdrawn. Short-acting BZDs should be the treatment of choice.
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In older adults, psychotropic use has been associated with risk of severe adverse effects such as falls, stroke and mortality.
“In older adults, psychotropic use has been associated with the risk of severe adverse effects such as falls [13–18], stroke [17, 19–22] and mortality [13, 23–25].”
From Stakeholders' views on the use of psychotropic medication in older people: a systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Díaz-Gutiérrez, M. J., Martínez-Cengotitabengoa, M., Sáez de Adana, E., Cano, A. I., Martínez-Cengotitabengoa, M. T., Besga, A., Segarra, R., & González-Pinto, A.
- Affiliations
- Hospital Universitario Araba (ES)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (ES)
- University of the Basque Country (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Cano, Ana Isabel
- Besga, Ariadna
- Segarra, Rafael
- González-Pinto, Ana
- Venue
- Maturitas
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-07
- Volume
- 101
- Pages
- 17-22
- ISSN
- 0378-5122 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2605259190
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Maturitas (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Social (FEDER) (PI15/00789, PI12/02077, PI14/01900, EC10-220)
- Department of Education, Linguistic Policy and Culture of the Basque Country Government (2013111162)
- University of the Basque Country (GIC10/80, GIC12/84, 321212ELBY)
- Stanley Research Foundation (03-RC-003)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Keywords
- benzodiazepines, falls, older adults, fall risk, short-acting benzodiazepines, polypharmacy, drug safety, fall prevention, benzodiazepine withdrawal
- MeSH terms
- Accidental Falls, Aged, Benzodiazepines, Humans
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