Link Between Multiple Sleep Medications and Long-Term Use in Japan
Author Information
Author(s): Komatsu Munehiro, Takeshima Masahiro, Yoshizawa Kazuhisa, Ogasawara Masaya, Kudo Mizuki, Miyakoshi Eru, Itoh Yu, Shibata Nana, Ayabe Naoko, Mishima Kazuo
Primary Institution: Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Is there an association between hypnotic polypharmacy and the duration of hypnotic prescriptions?
Conclusion
The study found a significant association between hypnotic polypharmacy and long-term prescriptions of hypnotics.
Supporting Evidence
- 67.9% of patients received hypnotic monotherapy, while 32.1% received hypnotic polypharmacy.
- The association with polypharmacy was stronger in those prescribed hypnotics for 4 months or more.
- Patients prescribed hypnotics for 13–24 months had a significantly higher likelihood of polypharmacy.
Takeaway
Using more than one sleep medication at the same time can lead to taking them for a longer time, which might not be good for you.
Methodology
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using data from the Japan Medical Data Center, focusing on adults prescribed hypnotics between April 2020 and March 2021.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the claims data used, which were not originally designed for clinical outcome observation.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable to the entire Japanese population as it primarily includes employees of large companies and their families.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 49.5 years, with 47.1% females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.04–1.27 for 4–6 months; 95% CI 1.23–1.49 for 7–9 months; 95% CI 1.43–1.73 for 10–12 months; 95% CI 2.99–3.52 for 13–24 months
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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