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An estimated 25% to 40% of older adults have insomnia, treated most commonly with medication. In this population, benzodiazepine hypnotics and zolpidem have been associated with falls and related problems, including fractures and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Researchers have now examined associations between risk for hospitalization for hip fracture or TBI and filled prescriptions for the nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotics (NBSHs) zolpidem, eszopiclone, and zaleplon.
The study population was a random sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 (mean age, 81; 62% women; 90% white) hospitalized for hip fracture (n=37,833) or TBI (n=15,031). The investigators examined NBSH use in the 30 days before hospitalization compared with 3, 6, 9, and 12…