A recent survey of over 14,000 people found that taking medications to treat insomnia or anxiety was associated with a 36% increased risk of death.
The results came from analyzing twelve years of data in the Statistics Canada’s National Population Health Survey.
The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, was conducted by Geneviève Belleville, a professor at Université Laval’s School of Psychology.
A number of reasons for the increase in mortality from sleeping pills and antianxiety drugs have been put forward, including how these pills can impact reaction time, coordination, and alertness, leading to increased accidents. They can also have an inhibiting effect on the central nervous system and the respiratory system.
Dr. Belleville points out: “These medications aren’t candy, and taking them is far from harmless.” She continues: “Given that cognitive behavioral therapies have shown good results in treating insomnia and anxiety, doctors should systematically discuss such therapies with their patients as an option.”
Read the full release below from the Université Laval’s School of Psychology, in English and in French.
Use of medication for insomnia or anxiety increases mortality risk by 36%
Quebec City, September 9, 2010—Taking medications to treat insomnia and anxiety increases mortality risk by 36%, according to a study conducted by Geneviève Belleville, a professor at Université Laval’s School of Psychology. The details of this study are published in the latest edition of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
Dr. Belleville arrived at these results through analysis of 12 years of data on over 14,000 Canadians in Statistics Canada’s National Population Health Survey. The data includes information on the social demographics, lifestyle, and health of Canadians age 18 to 102, surveyed every two years between 1994 and 2007.
During this period, respondents who reported having used medication to treat insomnia or anxiety at least once in the month preceding the survey had a mortality rate of 15.7%. Respondents who reported not having used such medications had a rate of 10.5%. After controlling for personal factors that might affect mortality risk, notably alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical health, physical activity level, and the presence or absence of depressive symptoms among participants, Dr. Belleville established that the consumption of sleeping pills or anxiety-relieving medications was associated with a 36% increase in the risk of death.
A number of hypotheses have been put forward to explain the link between use of these medications and increased mortality. Sleeping pills and anxiolytics affect reaction time, alertness, and coordination and are thus conducive to falls and other accidents. They may also have an inhibiting effect on the respiratory system, which could aggravate certain breathing problems during sleep. These medications are also central nervous system inhibitors that may affect judgment and thus increase the risk of suicide.
“These medications aren’t candy, and taking them is far from harmless,” commented Dr. Belleville. “Given that cognitive behavioral therapies have shown good results in treating insomnia and anxiety, doctors should systematically discuss such therapies with their patients as an option. Combining a pharmacological approach in the short term with psychological treatment is a promising strategy for reducing anxiety and promoting sleep.”
La prise de médicaments contre l’insomnie et l’anxiété augmente le risque de mortalité de 36 %
Québec, le 9 septembre 2010 – La prise de médicaments pour traiter l’insomnie et l’anxiété augmenterait de 36 % le risque de mortalité, selon une étude menée par Geneviève Belleville, professeure à l’École de psychologie de l’Université Laval. Les détails de cette étude sont publiés dans la plus récente édition de la Revue canadienne de psychiatrie.
La professeure Belleville est arrivée à ce résultat après avoir analysé des données recueillies pendant 12 ans auprès de plus de 14 000 Canadiens dans le cadre de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population, réalisée par Statistique Canada. Ces données incluent des renseignements sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les habitudes de vie et la santé de Canadiens âgés de 18 à 102 ans interrogés tous les deux ans sur une période allant de 1994 à 2007.
Durant cette période, les répondants ayant déclaré avoir fait usage au moins une fois au cours du dernier mois de médicaments pour traiter l’insomnie ou l’anxiété ont affiché un taux de mortalité de 15,7 %. Chez les répondants ayant déclaré ne pas avoir utilisé de tels médicaments, ce taux se situait à 10,5 %. En tenant compte de facteurs personnels pouvant avoir une incidence sur la mortalité, notamment la consommation d’alcool et de tabac, la santé physique, le niveau d’activité physique ainsi que la présence ou non de symptômes dépressifs chez les participants, la chercheuse a établi que la consommation de somnifères ou d’anxiolytiques entraînait une augmentation de 36 % du risque de mortalité.
Plusieurs hypothèses ont été avancées pour expliquer le lien entre l’usage de ces médicaments et le risque accru de mortalité. Les somnifères et les anxiolytiques influenceraient le temps de réaction, la vigilance et la coordination, favorisant ainsi les accidents ou les chutes. Ils auraient aussi un effet inhibiteur sur le système respiratoire, ce qui pourrait aggraver certains problèmes pulmonaires durant le sommeil. Enfin, ces médicaments sont des inhibiteurs du système nerveux central qui pourraient altérer le jugement et ainsi accroître les risques de suicide.
« Les médicaments pour traiter l’insomnie et l’anxiété ne sont pas des bonbons et il ne faut pas croire qu’il est anodin d’en consommer », commente Geneviève Belleville. « Comme les thérapies comportementales cognitives donnent de bons résultats dans le traitement de ces troubles, les médecins devraient systématiquement discuter de cette option avec leurs patients. Combiner une approche pharmacologique à court terme à un traitement psychologique constitue une stratégie prometteuse pour diminuer l’anxiété et favoriser le sommeil », conclut la chercheuse.
Source:
Université Laval’s School of Psychology
Reference:
Can J Psychiatry. 2010 Sep;55(9):558-67.
Mortality hazard associated with anxiolytic and hypnotic drug use in the national population health survey.
Belleville G.
Université Laval, Quebec, Canada. Genevieve.Belleville@psy.ulaval.ca
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Although widely used in the general population, sleeping pills and minor tranquilizers, also known as antianxiety agents, have been associated with undesirable outcomes. Reports about the association of these drugs with an elevated mortality rate are inconsistent and controversial. This study was designed to assess the mortality hazard associated with anxiolytic and hypnotic drug use in the National Population Health Survey in Canada. It was hypothesized that anxiolytic and hypnotic drug use would be associated with an elevated mortality hazard.
METHOD: A population-based sample of 14 117 people aged 18 to 102 years participated in a longitudinal panel survey, with data collected every second year from 1994 to 2007. The primary outcome measures reported in this study are self-report use of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs, and death.
RESULTS: For respondents who reported anxiolytic or hypnotic drug use in the past month the odds of mortality were 3.22 times more (95% CI 2.70 to 3.84) than for those who did not use anxiolytic or hypnotic drugs in the past month. After controlling for confounding sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health factors (including depression), the odds ratio was reduced to 1.36 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.70) but remained significant.
CONCLUSION: Sedative drug use is associated with a small but significant increase in mortality risk. Further research is required to confirm the mechanisms by which sedative drug use increases mortality risk. Where possible, physicians should systematically consider possibilities for nonpharmacological treatment of sleep disturbances and anxiety.
