(179) The Incidence of Benzodiazepine and Benzodiazepine-Related Drug Use in People with or Without Parkinson's Disease Before and After the Diagnosis

Saturday, August 27, 2022

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

Location: Hall C

Publication Number: 853

Presenting Author(s)

Anna-Maija Tolppanen
– professor, Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo, Finland

Co-Author(s)

Veera Lonka
– School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, Finland
Sirpa Hartikainen
– Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo, Finland
Miia Tiihonen
– University of Eastern Finland, Syv�nniemi, Pohjois-Savo, Finland
Marjaana Koponen
– School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, Finland

Background: Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), such as sleep disorders and anxiety are common and they can appear even before motor symptoms. Benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related drugs (BZDR) may be used to treat these symptoms, although they are associated with an increased risk of falls and fall-related injuries. It is unknown how the incidence of BZDR use changes in relation to PD diagnosis.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of BZDR use in community-dwelling people with and without PD from 6 years before to 10 years after the PD diagnosis.

Methods: A nationwide register-based FINPARK-cohort was used. This study included 18,651 persons diagnosed with PD in 1996–2016 and their matched comparison persons (n=127,806). The incidence of both benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine-related drug use was ascertained from reimbursed drug purchases from a national register.

Results: People with PD initiated BZDR use more frequently than the comparison people (39.0% vs. 25.9%). The incidence rate was higher in the PD group throughout the study period, and the incidence began to increase 2 years before and peaked at 6 months before the diagnosis.

Conclusions: The higher incidence of BZDR use in persons with PD already 2 years before the PD diagnosis may indicate that sleeping problems and anxiety appear years before the PD diagnosis. The use of fall-risk increasing BZDR for people with PD is concerning, as the disease itself increases the risk of falling.