US Pharm. 2016;41(12):12.
Joensuu, Finland—According to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland, the use of benzodiazepines and related drugs increases the risk of hip fracture by 43% in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The study was based on the MEDALZ (MEDication use and ALZheimer’s disease) cohort, including all Finnish persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease between 2005 and 2011. During benzodiazepine use, 2.5 hip fractures occurred per 100 person-years, whereas without drug use, the incidence was 1.4 hip fractures per 100 person-years. These results highlight the importance of following treatment guidelines, which recommend that behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia be treated with nonpharmacologic options to avoid adverse events
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