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Benzodiazepine and unhealthy alcohol use among adult outpatients.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Concomitant excessive alcohol consumption and benzodiazepine use is associated with adverse health outcomes. We examined associations of unhealthy alcohol use and other patient characteristics with benzodiazepine use. STUDY DESIGN:A cross-sectional analysis of 2,089,525 Kaiser Permanente of Northern California outpatients screened for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016. METHODS:We fit multivariable generalized linear models to estimate the associations between unhealthy alcohol use and benzodiazepine dispensation and, among patients who were dispensed a benzodiazepine, mean doses (in mean lorazepam-equivalent daily doses [LEDDs]) and prescription durations. We controlled for patient sex, age, race/ethnicity, estimated household income, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, insomnia, musculoskeletal pain, and epilepsy. RESULTS:In the 12 months centered around (6 months before and 6 months after) the first alcohol-screening visit, 7.5% of patients used benzodiazepines. The following characteristics were independently associated with higher rates of benzodiazepine use, higher LEDD, and longer prescription duration: older age, white race/ethnicity, lower estimated household income, higher CCI score, and the presence of an anxiety disorder, insomnia, musculoskeletal pain, or epilepsy. Women and patients with an alcohol use disorder or unhealthy alcohol use, compared with men and patients with low-risk drinking or abstinence, were more likely to use a benzodiazepine; however, their LEDDs were lower and their prescription durations were shorter. CONCLUSIONS:Benzodiazepine use in primary care was associated with older age, female sex, white race/ethnicity, lower socioeconomic status, and unhealthy alcohol use. These findings may be applied to develop policies and interventions to promote judicious benzodiazepine use.

SUBMITTER: Hirschtritt ME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7217068 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Benzodiazepine and unhealthy alcohol use among adult outpatients.

Hirschtritt Matthew E ME Palzes Vanessa A VA Kline-Simon Andrea H AH Kroenke Kurt K Campbell Cynthia I CI Sterling Stacy A SA

The American journal of managed care 20191201 12

<h4>Objectives</h4>Concomitant excessive alcohol consumption and benzodiazepine use is associated with adverse health outcomes. We examined associations of unhealthy alcohol use and other patient characteristics with benzodiazepine use.<h4>Study design</h4>A cross-sectional analysis of 2,089,525 Kaiser Permanente of Northern California outpatients screened for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016.<h4>Methods</h4>We fit multivariable generalized li ...[more]

PMID: 31860229

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) is one of the major causes of preventable morbidity, mortality, and associated behavioral risks worldwide. Although mobile health (mHealth) interventions can provide consumers with an effective means for self-control of UAU in a timely, ubiquitous, and cost-effective manner, to date, there is a lack of understanding about different health outcomes brought by such interventions. The core components of these interventions are also unclear. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize the research evidence about the efficacy of mHealth interventions on various health outcomes for consumer self-control of UAU and to identify the core components to achieve these outcomes. METHODS:We systematically searched 7 electronic interdisciplinary databases: Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, CINAHL Plus with full text, MEDLINE with full text, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES. Search terms and Medical Subject Headings "mHealth," "text message," "SMS," "App," "IVR," "self-control," "self-regulation," "alcohol*," and "intervention" were used individually or in combination to identify peer-reviewed publications in English from 2008 to 2017. We screened titles and abstracts and assessed full-text papers as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted from the included papers according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials-EHEALTH checklist (V 1.6.1) by 2 authors independently. Data quality was assessed by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data synthesis and analyses were conducted following the procedures for qualitative content analysis. Statistical testing was also conducted to test differences among groups of studies. RESULTS:In total, 19 studies were included in the review. Of these 19 studies, 12 (63%) mHealth interventions brought significant positive outcomes in improving participants' health as measured by behavioral (n=11), physiological (n=1), and cognitive indicators (n=1). No significant health outcome was reported in 6 studies (6/19, 32%). Surprisingly, a significant negative outcome was reported for the male participants in the intervention arm in 1 study (1/19, 5%), but no change was found for the female participants. In total, 5 core components reported in the mHealth interventions for consumer self-control of UAU were context, theoretical base, delivery mode, content, and implementation procedure. However, sound evidence is yet to be generated about the role of each component for mHealth success. The health outcomes were similar regardless of types of UAU, deployment setting, with or without nonmobile cointervention, and with or without theory. CONCLUSIONS:Most studies reported mHealth interventions for self-control of UAU appeared to be improving behavior, especially the ones delivered by short message service and interactive voice response systems. Further studies are needed to gather sound evidence about the effects of mHealth interventions on improving physiological and cognitive outcomes as well as the optimal design of these interventions, their implementation, and effects in supporting self-control of UAU.

Project description:BackgroundEmergency Departments (EDs) are important arenas for the detection of unhealthy substance use. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for unhealthy alcohol use has been used in some ED settings with funding support from external sources. However, widespread sustained implementation is uncommon, and research aimed at understanding culture as a determinant for implementation is lacking. This study aims to explore cultural practices concerning the handling of patients with unhealthy alcohol use admitted to an ED.MethodsAn ethnographic study was conducted in an ED in the Capital Region of Denmark. The data consists of participant observations of Health Care Professionals (HCPs) and semi-structured interviews with nurses. Data was collected from July 2018 to February 2020. A cultural analysis was performed by using Qualitative Content Analysis as an analytic tool.Results150 h of observation and 11 interviews were conducted. Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Setting the scene describes how subthemes "flow," "risky environment," and "physical spaces and artefacts" are a part of the contextual environment of an ED, and their implications for patients with unhealthy alcohol use, such as placement in certain rooms; (2) The encounter presents how patients' and HCPs' encounters unfold in everyday practice. Subtheme "Professional differences" showcases how nurses and doctors address patients' alcohol habits differently, and how they do not necessarily act on the information provided, due to several factors. These factors are shown in remaining sub-themes "gut-feeling vs. clinical parameters," "ethical reasoning," and "from compliance to zero-tolerance"; and (3) Collective repertoires shows how language shapes the perception of patients with unhealthy alcohol use, which may cause stigma and stereotyping. Subthemes are "occupiers" and "alcoholic or party animal?".ConclusionsUnhealthy alcohol use in the ED is entangled in complex cultural networks. Patients with severe and easily recognizable unhealthy alcohol use-characterized by an alcohol diagnosis in the electronic medical record, intoxication, or unwanted behavior-shape the general approach and attitude to unhealthy alcohol use. Consequently, from a prevention perspective, this means that patients with less apparent unhealthy alcohol use tend to be overlooked or neglected, which calls for a systematic screening approach.

Project description:BackgroundUnhealthy alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the USA and is associated with many societal and health problems. Less than a third of people who visit primary care providers in the USA are asked about or ever discuss alcohol use with a health professional.Methods/designThis study is an adaptive, randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effect of primary care practice facilitation and telehealth services on evidence-based screening, counseling, and pharmacotherapy for unhealthy alcohol use in small-to-medium-sized primary care practices. Study participants will include primary care practices in North Carolina with 10 or fewer providers. All enrolled practices will receive a practice facilitation intervention that includes quality improvement (QI) coaching, electronic health record (EHR) support, training, and expert consultation. After 6 months, practices in the lower 50th percentile (based on performance) will be randomized to continued practice facilitation or provision of telehealth services plus ongoing facilitation for the next 6 months. Practices in the upper 50th percentile after the initial 6 months of intervention will continue to receive practice facilitation alone. The main outcome measures include the number (and %) of patients in the target population who are screened for unhealthy alcohol use, screen positive, and receive brief counseling. Additional measures include the number (and %) of patients who receive pharmacotherapy for AUD or are referred for AUD services. Sample size calculations determined that 35 practices are needed to detect a 10% increase in the main outcome (percent screened for unhealthy alcohol use) over 6 months.DiscussionA successful intervention would significantly reduce morbidity among adults from unhealthy alcohol use by increasing counseling and other treatment opportunities. The study will produce important evidence about the effect of practice facilitation on uptake of evidence-based screening, counseling, and pharmacotherapy for unhealthy alcohol use when delivered on a large scale to small and medium-sized practices. It will also generate scientific knowledge about whether embedded telehealth services can improve the use of evidence-based screening and interventions for practices with slower uptake. The results of this rigorously conducted evaluation are expected to have a positive impact by accelerating the dissemination and implementation of evidence related to unhealthy alcohol use into primary care practices.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04317989 . Registered on March 23, 2020.

Project description:ImportanceIncreased use of benzodiazepines has resulted in increasing rates of misuse and adverse effects associated with these drugs. Little is known about the initial exposure and source of benzodiazepines among those who use them persistently.ObjectiveTo examine the frequency of use and persistent use of benzodiazepines among patients undergoing major and minor surgical procedures.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study included 2 509 599 adult patients who underwent 1 of 11 common surgical procedures in the United States from 2009 to 2017 and were recorded in the MarketScan database. The rates of perioperative and persistent benzodiazepine use were examined in benzodiazepine-naive patients. Data analysis was conducted from July to November 2020.Main outcomes and measuresReceipt of a perioperative benzodiazepine prescription and persistent use (ie, fill of a second prescription 90-180 days after surgery) among those who received a benzodiazepine perioperatively.ResultsAmong 2 509 599 included patients, the mean (SD) age was 54.4 (15.3) years, and 1 596 137 (63.6%) were women. Perioperative benzodiazepine use was noted in 63 931 patients (2.6%). The median (interquartile range) benzodiazepine supply was 10 (5-23) days. Among benzodiazepine-naive patients prescribed a perioperative benzodiazepine, the rate of persistent benzodiazepine use was 19.5% (95% CI, 19.2%-19.8%). During the 90 to 180-day period after surgery, 7013 of 12 468 patients (56.2%) received 1 prescription for benzodiazepines while 5455 (43.8%) received 2 or more prescriptions. Among patients prescribed a benzodiazepine, persistent use was more common in Medicaid recipients (vs patients with commercial insurance: adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.62), patients 70 years or older (vs those aged 40-49 years: aRR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23), in women (vs men: aRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.15), in patients with more medical comorbidities (eg, Elixhauser comorbidity score ≥3 vs 0: aRR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19), and in those with diagnoses of anxiety, depression, insomnia or substance use disorder (eg, with vs without anxiety: aRR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.37-1.50).Conclusions and relevanceIn this study, a relatively small percentage of surgical patients were prescribed benzodiazepines in the perioperative period; however, 1 in 5 of these patients went on to persistent benzodiazepine use.

Project description:ImportanceBariatric surgical procedures have been associated with increased risk of unhealthy alcohol use, but no previous research has evaluated the long-term alcohol-related risks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), currently the most used bariatric procedure. No US-based study has compared long-term alcohol-related outcomes between patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and those who have not.ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes over time in alcohol use and unhealthy alcohol use from 2 years before to 8 years after a bariatric surgical procedure among individuals with or without preoperative unhealthy alcohol use.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic health record (EHR) data on military veterans who underwent a bariatric surgical procedure at any of the bariatric centers in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2016. Surgical patients without unhealthy alcohol use at baseline were matched using sequential stratification to nonsurgical control patients without unhealthy alcohol use at baseline, and surgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline were matched to nonsurgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline. Data were analyzed in February 2020.InterventionsLSG (n = 1684) and RYGB (n = 924).Main outcomes and measuresMean alcohol use, unhealthy alcohol use, and no alcohol use were estimated using scores from the validated 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), which had been documented in the VA EHR. Alcohol outcomes were estimated with mixed-effects models.ResultsA total of 2608 surgical patients were included in the final cohort (1964 male [75.3%] and 644 female [24.7%] veterans. Mean (SD) age of surgical patients was 53.0 (9.9) years and 53.6 (9.9) years for the matched nonsurgical patients. Among patients without baseline unhealthy alcohol use, 1539 patients who underwent an LSG were matched to 14 555 nonsurgical control patients and 854 patients who underwent an RYGB were matched to 8038 nonsurgical control patients. In patients without baseline unhealthy alcohol use, the mean AUDIT-C scores and the probability of unhealthy alcohol use both increased significantly 3 to 8 years after an LSG or an RYGB, compared with control patients. Eight years after an LSG, the probability of unhealthy alcohol use was higher in surgical vs control patients (7.9% [95% CI, 6.4-9.5] vs 4.5% [95% CI, 4.1-4.9]; difference, 3.4% [95% CI, 1.8-5.0])). Similarly, 8 years after an RYGB, the probability of unhealthy alcohol use was higher in surgical vs control patients (9.2% [95% CI, 8.0-10.3] vs 4.4% [95% CI, 4.1-4.6]; difference, 4.8% [95% CI, 3.6-5.9]). The probability of no alcohol use also decreased significantly 5 to 8 years after both procedures for surgical vs control patients. Among patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline, prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use was higher for patients who underwent an RYGB than matched controls.Conclusions and relevanceIn this multi-site cohort study of predominantly male patients, among those who did not have unhealthy alcohol use in the 2 years before bariatric surgery, the probability of developing unhealthy alcohol use increased significantly 3-8 years after bariatric procedures compared with matched controls during follow-up.

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Benzodiazepine and unhealthy alcohol use among adult outpatients.

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Benzodiazepine and unhealthy alcohol use among adult outpatients.

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