Engelsk titel: Concomitant alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drug use among the elderly in Norway
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Författare:
Bye, Elin Kristin
;
Rossow, Ingeborg
Email: elin.bye@fhi.no
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 22
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 17060208
Sammanfattning
Background: Sedative-hypnotic drugs (i.e., tranquilizers and sleeping pills) are more often used
among the elderly compared to other age groups. Concomitant use of alcohol and sedativehypnotic
drugs constitutes a particularly high risk factor for accidental injuries among the
elderly. However, few studies have addressed the prevalence of concomitant alcohol and sedativehypnotic
drug use and knowledge about the characteristics of such use is meagre. Aim: To assess
the prevalence of concomitant alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drug use among elderly people and to
explore the characteristics of such concomitant use. Data and method: Data stemmed from
cross-sectional population surveys in Norway, conducted in the period 2012–2015 (sub-sample
60–79 years: N ¼ 1920). Results: Respondents reported frequencies of use of sedatives (tranquilizers),
hypnotics (sleeping pills) and alcohol consumption in the preceding 12 months. Sedativehypnotic
drug use was reported by 25%, and 19% reported both such drug use and alcohol use in
the past year. Concomitant use, suggesting simultaneous intake of alcohol and drugs, was reported
by 6%. Conclusions: Concomitant use was more often reported by women, hazardous alcohol
users, non-working respondents, and by those in the lower income groups and those living alone.
Health personnel need to take into consideration the risks associated with concomitant use and to
inform their patients accordingly.