Benzodiazepines and Hip Fractures
Authors: Anita K. Wagner
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2007)

Letters4 September 2007Benzodiazepines and Hip FracturesAnita K. Wagner, PharmD, MPH, DrPH, Dennis Ross-Degnan, ScD, Stephen B. Soumerai, ScD, and Jerry H. Gurwitz, MDAnita K. Wagner, PharmD, MPH, DrPHFrom Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, and Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Fallon Foundation, and Fallon Community Health Plan, Worcester, MA 01605.Search for more papers by this author, Dennis Ross-Degnan, ScDFrom Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, and Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Fallon Foundation, and Fallon Community Health Plan, Worcester, MA 01605.Search for more papers by this author, Stephen B. Soumerai, ScDFrom Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, and Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Fallon Foundation, and Fallon Community Health Plan, Worcester, MA 01605.Search for more papers by this author, and Jerry H. Gurwitz, MDFrom Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, and Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Fallon Foundation, and Fallon Community Health Plan, Worcester, MA 01605.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-147-5-200709040-00017 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Lesser supports our conclusion of the possible lack of a relationship between the use of benzodiazepines and hip fractures in the elderly with additional data from the published literature. Since the landmark studies of 1987 (1) and 1989 (2), results of research on the benzodiazepine–hip fracture relationship have become increasingly contradictory. We concur with Dr. Lesser that differences in results are probably due to study design issues, such as benzodiazepine exposure misclassification in prospective cohort studies (3) and imperfect control for potential confounders in large, claims data–based, case–control studies (4). On the basis of these results and ...References1. Ray WA, Griffin MR, Schaffner W, Baugh DK, Melton LJ. Psychotropic drug use and the risk of hip fracture. N Engl J Med. 1987;316:363-9. [PMID: 2880292] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Ray WA, Griffin MR, Downey W. Benzodiazepines of long and short elimination half-life and the risk of hip fracture. JAMA. 1989;262:3303-7. [PMID: 2573741] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Ray WA, Thapa PB, Gideon P. Misclassification of current benzodiazepine exposure by use of a single baseline measurement and its effects upon studies of injuries. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2002;11:663-9. [PMID: 12512242] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Schneeweiss S, Wang PS. Claims data studies of sedative-hypnotics and hip fractures in older people: exploring residual confounding using survey information. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53:948-54. [PMID: 15935016] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Anita K. Wagner, PharmD, MPH, DrPH; Dennis Ross-Degnan, ScD; Stephen B. Soumerai, ScD; Jerry H. Gurwitz, MDAffiliations: From Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, and Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Fallon Foundation, and Fallon Community Health Plan, Worcester, MA 01605.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEffect of New York State Regulatory Action on Benzodiazepine Prescribing and Hip Fracture Rates Anita K. Wagner , Dennis Ross-Degnan , Jerry H. Gurwitz , Fang Zhang , Daniel B. Gilden , Leon Cosler , and Stephen B. Soumerai Benzodiazepines and Hip Fractures Gerson T. Lesser Metrics 4 September 2007Volume 147, Issue 5Page: 348KeywordsCohort studiesDecision makingDrug policyDrugsElderlyHip fracturesLongitudinal studiesMedicareRandomized trialsResearch design ePublished: 4 September 2007 Issue Published: 4 September 2007 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...