The prevalence of benzodiazepines and other hypnotics and their impact on injury severity among older adults involved in motor vehicle collisions: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION

Older adults are increasingly involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Hypnotics are known to impair driving ability. This study investigated the prevalence of hypnotics use among older adult drivers involved in MVCs and evaluated their impact on injury severity and co-prevalence with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants.

METHODS

This study analyzed prospectively collected data from older drivers (≥65 years) involved in MVCs from 2018 to 2023 across 17 Canadian emergency departments. Blood samples were tested for benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, alcohol, opioids, cannabis, stimulants, and other CNS depressants. Need for hospital admission was used as an indicator of severe injury. Statistical analyses included Chi-square tests to assess group differences and estimation of marginal relative risks via G-computation, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Among 1459 older drivers involved in collisions, 11.8% (n = 172) tested positive for hypnotics (hypnotic+). The most frequently detected agents in this group were non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (41.3%), followed by long-acting (33.7%), intermediate-acting (27.3%), and short-acting benzodiazepines (5.8%). Co-detections were also common in patients tested positive for hypnotics, particularly with antidepressants (40.1%), opioids (18.6%), antihistamines (10.5%), and antipsychotics (8.7%). Hypnotic + patients were more frequently aged 65-74 years (56.4%) and male (57.0%). There was no significant difference in risk of hospital admission between hypnotic+ and hypnotic- groups (50.0% vs. 45.8%, p = 0.59). The adjusted relative risk of admission was 1.01 [95% CI: 0.87, 1.17, p = 0.91].

CONCLUSION

Hypnotic use among older drivers involved in MVCs is prevalent and associated with polypharmacy. However, it was not associated with an increased risk of severe trauma among patients receiving ED treatment following MVCs.