Obesity Increases Mortality Risk With Sleep Aids

San Diego, CA—Researchers with the Scripps Clinic’s Viterbi Family Sleep Center in San Diego have found that obesity appears to significantly increase the risk of death tied to hypnotics. Based on data from 40,000 U.S. patients, the use of sleep aids among obese patients (average BMI >38.8) was associated with about one extra death per year for every 100 people who were prescribed the drugs. The mortality rate was 8.1 times higher on average among those who were prescribed the smallest number of pills (18 or fewer annually) when compared with similar study participants who did not take the drugs. Obese patients appear particularly vulnerable, perhaps through interaction with sleep apnea.

To comment on this article, contact rdavidson@uspharmacist.com.