[Health-related quality of life in patients consuming benzodiazepine].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in benzodiazepine users and to verify whether there is an association with the characteristics of the treatment, its effectiveness, and the sociodemographic variables.

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

LOCATION: Family medicine consultations.

PARTICIPANTS

Four hundred and fifty 2patients over 18 years of age consuming benzodiazepines or similar drugs.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS: HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQol5-D questionnaire. Other variables: symptoms of anxiety or insomnia, sociodemographic variables and characteristics of the treatment.

RESULTS

The mean score in health status was 62.80 (95% CI: 60.69-64.86), lower in people without studies (59.27±21.97 SD; P=.004) and lower social category (60.02±21.27 SD; P<.001). Regarding the social rate (EQ index), a mean score of 0.6025 (95% CI: 0.5659-0.6391) was obtained, higher in people with higher education (0.6577±0.3574 SD; P=.001), plus social category (0.7286±0.3381 SD; P<.001) and age less than 65 years (0.6603±0.3426 SD; P<.001). The variables that were associated with the value of the EQ index by means of multiple regression were absence of anxiety/insomnia, belonging to higher social classes, age less than 65 years and less consumption of anxiolytics/hypnotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who use benzodiazepines show, despite treatment, a moderate HRQL, lower than that obtained in the general population or in primary care patients. The situation is more favorable in the youngest, in those who do not present anxiety/insomnia, in those belonging to higher social classes and when the consumption of drugs is lower.