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| Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2003): |
Sedative-hypnotic use of diphenhydramine in a rural, older adult, community-based cohort: effects on cognition.
Full Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The authors sought to identify patterns and associations of prescription and over-the-counter sedative-hypnotic use in an older, rural, blue-collar, community-based cohort in southwestern Pennsylvania over 10 years.
METHODS:
A group of 1,627 individuals age 65 and over were recruited and assessed during 1987-1989 and re-assessed during approximately biennial waves. Data included sleep medications, demographics, depressive symptoms, sleep complaints, and cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Exam [MMSE]).
RESULTS:
At Waves 1 through 5, the mean age of the cohort increased from 73.4 to 80.5 years. Use of prescription sedative-hypnotics (primarily benzodiazepines) increased from 1.8% to 3.1%, and over-the-counter sedative-hypnotic use (primarily diphenhydramine) increased from 0.4% to 7.6%. At Wave 5 (1996-1998), 8.17% of the sample reported using diphenhydramine as a sleep aid. After adjusting for age and sex, diphenhydramine use was associated with higher education and more depressive symptoms, the latter becoming nonsignificant after controlling for initial insomnia. MMSE became significantly associated with diphenhydramine use when 143 subjects with dementia were excluded from the analysis.
CONCLUSION:
As the cohort aged, prescription sedative-hypnotic use remained relatively stable, whereas over-the-counter sedative use, principally diphenhydramine, increased substantially. The association of this drug with cognitive impairment in persons without dementia highlights its potential for causing adverse reactions in older adults.
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Author information
Author/s: Basu, Ranita (R); Dodge, Hiroko (H); Stoehr, Gary P (GP); Ganguli, Mary (M);
Affiliation: Division of Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Grants: AG07562 (Agency:United States NIA)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Journal: The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: -2003 Mar-Apr; vol 11 (issue 2) : pp 205-13
Dates: Created 2003/03/03; Completed 2003/07/03; Revised 2007/11/14;
PMID: 12611750, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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