Patrícia Ferreira1, Ana Rita Ferreira2,3, Beatriz Barreto2, Lia Fernandes2,3,4. 1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. patriciasofiaribeiroferreira@gmail.com. 2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 3. Faculty of Medicine, CINTESIS-Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 4. Psychiatry Service, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) and related drugs (BZRDs) are commonly used to treat diverse psychiatric disorders due to their anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative properties, despite their known associated side effects, including acute consequences on cognition. Recently, some studies have also suggested that long-term cognitive effects may coexist, as the increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This review aims to appraise and summarise published synthesis studies on the risk of dementia development due to BZDs/BZRDs use. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Epistemonikos databases. Grey literature and hand search of the studies' reference lists were undertaken. Meta-analysis, systematic and non-systematic reviews were included. Neither language nor date restrictions were applied. Search results other than synthesis studies were excluded. The methodological quality of the included reviews was analysed with AMSTAR-2 and SANRA tools. RESULTS: Overall, 877 records were initially retrieved and 15 complied with the inclusion criteria. From these, five were systematic reviews with meta-analysis, two were systematic reviews and eight were non-systematic reviews. Most of the primary studies included in the analysed reviews found an association between BZDs/BZRDs use and subsequent dementia, with meta-analysis studies reporting an increased risk for users (ORs ranging from 1.38 to 1.78). However, the considerable clinical and methodological heterogeneity of the primary studies makes it difficult to establish a causal relationship. CONCLUSION: Although hampered by the heterogeneity between the studies, the present findings suggest an association between BZDs/BZRDs use and increased risk of dementia in older adults.
PURPOSE: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) and related drugs (BZRDs) are commonly used to treat diverse psychiatric disorders due to their anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative properties, despite their known associated side effects, including acute consequences on cognition. Recently, some studies have also suggested that long-term cognitive effects may coexist, as the increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This review aims to appraise and summarise published synthesis studies on the risk of dementia development due to BZDs/BZRDs use. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Epistemonikos databases. Grey literature and hand search of the studies' reference lists were undertaken. Meta-analysis, systematic and non-systematic reviews were included. Neither language nor date restrictions were applied. Search results other than synthesis studies were excluded. The methodological quality of the included reviews was analysed with AMSTAR-2 and SANRA tools. RESULTS: Overall, 877 records were initially retrieved and 15 complied with the inclusion criteria. From these, five were systematic reviews with meta-analysis, two were systematic reviews and eight were non-systematic reviews. Most of the primary studies included in the analysed reviews found an association between BZDs/BZRDs use and subsequent dementia, with meta-analysis studies reporting an increased risk for users (ORs ranging from 1.38 to 1.78). However, the considerable clinical and methodological heterogeneity of the primary studies makes it difficult to establish a causal relationship. CONCLUSION: Although hampered by the heterogeneity between the studies, the present findings suggest an association between BZDs/BZRDs use and increased risk of dementia in older adults.
Authors: Consuelo Huerta; Victoria Abbing-Karahagopian; Gema Requena; Belén Oliva; Yolanda Alvarez; Helga Gardarsdottir; Montserrat Miret; Cornelia Schneider; Miguel Gil; Patrick C Souverein; Marie L De Bruin; Jim Slattery; Mark C H De Groot; Ulrik Hesse; Marietta Rottenkolber; Sven Schmiedl; Dolores Montero; Andrew Bate; Ana Ruigomez; Luis Alberto García-Rodríguez; Saga Johansson; Frank de Vries; Raymond G Schlienger; Robert F Reynolds; Olaf H Klungel; Francisco José de Abajo Journal: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf Date: 2015-07-07 Impact factor: 2.890
Authors: Gill Livingston; Jonathan Huntley; Andrew Sommerlad; David Ames; Clive Ballard; Sube Banerjee; Carol Brayne; Alistair Burns; Jiska Cohen-Mansfield; Claudia Cooper; Sergi G Costafreda; Amit Dias; Nick Fox; Laura N Gitlin; Robert Howard; Helen C Kales; Mika Kivimäki; Eric B Larson; Adesola Ogunniyi; Vasiliki Orgeta; Karen Ritchie; Kenneth Rockwood; Elizabeth L Sampson; Quincy Samus; Lon S Schneider; Geir Selbæk; Linda Teri; Naaheed Mukadam Journal: Lancet Date: 2020-07-30 Impact factor: 79.321