PURPOSE: To estimate the degree of long-term use of zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon among Danes aged 65 and older and the association with sociodemographic factors and use of other drugs. METHODS: Danish register-based study of 5000 men and 5000 women aged 65 or older on 1 January 2004. Information on sociodemographic factors and drug redemptions were collected for 2003, with follow-up of zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon redemptions in 2004. Long-term use was defined as redemptions corresponding to a continuous daily use for more than 4 weeks (based on ½ DDD). The association between long-term use and sociodemographics and drug use was estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Ten per cent of all men and 16% of all women had a long-term use for minimum 4 weeks corresponding to 94% of the male and 93% of the female users. Four per cent of the men and 6% of the women had redeemed more than ½ DDD per day in 2004. Long-term use was associated with: Being a woman, high age, widowed or divorced, high education and high gross income. Long-term use was also associated with use of other drugs, the association with ATC group N being the strongest. Restricting the analyses to individuals who had minimum one zopiclone, zolpidem or zaleplon redemption gave similar results. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the guidance for length of use is not followed. Long-term use of zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon is associated with sociodemographic factors and use of other drugs, particularly from ATC group N.
PURPOSE: To estimate the degree of long-term use of zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon among Danes aged 65 and older and the association with sociodemographic factors and use of other drugs. METHODS: Danish register-based study of 5000 men and 5000 women aged 65 or older on 1 January 2004. Information on sociodemographic factors and drug redemptions were collected for 2003, with follow-up of zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon redemptions in 2004. Long-term use was defined as redemptions corresponding to a continuous daily use for more than 4 weeks (based on ½ DDD). The association between long-term use and sociodemographics and drug use was estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Ten per cent of all men and 16% of all women had a long-term use for minimum 4 weeks corresponding to 94% of the male and 93% of the female users. Four per cent of the men and 6% of the women had redeemed more than ½ DDD per day in 2004. Long-term use was associated with: Being a woman, high age, widowed or divorced, high education and high gross income. Long-term use was also associated with use of other drugs, the association with ATC group N being the strongest. Restricting the analyses to individuals who had minimum one zopiclone, zolpidem or zaleplon redemption gave similar results. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the guidance for length of use is not followed. Long-term use of zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon is associated with sociodemographic factors and use of other drugs, particularly from ATC group N.