Link between hip fracture and benzodiazepines in elderly is not confirmed

The risk of an elderly person falling is thought to be increased if they are taking benzodiazepines. On p 704 Pierfitte et al report a case-control trial set in an emergency department in France which examined whether an association also existed between use of benzodiazepines and hip fractures in elderly people. They used questionnaires, medical records, and plasma samples to determine use of such drugs and found that the drugs were not associated with hip fracture, except when two or more were being taken. This association was found only when questionnaires and medical records were used to determine use of benzodiazepines, however, and was not confirmed by the plasma samples. The researchers found no association between hip fracture and longer life benzodiazepines or greater doses, but lorazepam was associated with increased risk.

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Benzodiazepines and hip fractures in elderly people: case-control study

Corinne Pierfitte, Gerard Macouillard, Michel Thicoïpe, Anicet Chaslerie, Fabienne Pehourcq, Myriam Aïssou, Béatrice Martinez, Rajaa Lagnaoui, Annie Fourrier, Bernard Bégaud, Jacques Dangoumau, and Nicholas Moore
BMJ 2001 322: 704-708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]