Risks of Benzodiazepines in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Sleep Deficiency, Sleep Apnea, and Chronic Lung Disease

With sleep occupying up to one-third of every adult's life, addressing sleep is essential to overall health. Sleep disturbance and deficiency are common in patients with chronic lung diseases and associated with worse clinical outcomes and poor quality of life. A detailed history incorporating nocturnal respiratory symptoms, symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and medications is the first step in identifying and addressing the multiple factors often contributing to sleep deficiency in chronic lung disease. Additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between sleep deficiency and the spectrum of chronic lung diseases.

Do Antidepressants Worsen COPD Outcomes in Depressed Patients with COPD?

The coexistence of depression with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with poorer outcomes. Studies have questioned the safety of antidepressants in patients with COPD. This review shows the potential relationships and the possible mechanisms and gives us good warnings on how to approach this problem. Treatment should be both non-pharmacological and pharmacological, but importantly tailored to the individual patient.

Hypnotics and Mortality in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Hospital and National Data-Based Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) may experience insomnia and use hypnotics. However, the effect of the use of hypnotics on their clinical course remains unclear.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is the use of hypnotics associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with IPF?

STUDY DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

This study included 99 patients with IPF from the Hamamatsu hospital-based cohort and 123 patients with IPF from the Seirei hospital-based cohort, as well as 30,218 patients with IPF from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (the NDB cohort). To analyze the association of hypnotics use with outcomes avoiding immortal time bias, multivariable Cox models with time-dependent covariates and target trial emulation with a new user design were used for the hospital- and NDB-based cohorts.

RESULTS

In the cohorts studied, the 3-year cumulative incidence of new use of hypnotics following the IPF diagnosis ranged from 13.4% to 24.1%. In both hospital-based cohorts, the continuous use of hypnotics was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and disease progression. In the NDB cohort, the continuous use of hypnotics was also associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Subgroup analysis found associations between the continuous use of hypnotics and increased mortality regardless of sex and comorbidities, excluding certain subpopulations.

INTERPRETATION

This study found that continuous use of hypnotics was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with IPF. Given the relatively high cumulative incidence of hypnotics use in this population, there is an urgent need to reassess the appropriate use of hypnotics for patients with IPF.

Association Between Hypnotic Use and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Insomnia

Purpose

Hypnotics are commonly prescribed in patients with COPD to manage insomnia. Given the considerable risks associated with these drugs, the aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of all-cause mortality associated with hypnotics in a cohort of veterans with COPD presenting with insomnia.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study that used Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse with data supplemented by linkage to Medicare, Medicaid, and National Death Index data from 2010 through 2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Analyses were conducted using propensity score 1:1 matching to balance baseline characteristics.

Results

Of the 5759 veterans with COPD (mean [SD] age, 71.7 [11.2]; 92% men), 3585 newly initiated hypnotic agents during the study period. During a mean follow-up of 7.4 (SD, 2.7) years, a total of 2301 deaths occurred, with 65.2 and 48.7 total deaths per 1000 person-years among hypnotic users and nonusers, respectively. After propensity matching, hypnotic use was associated with a 22% increased risk of mortality compared with hypnotic nonusers (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.11-1.35). The benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) group experienced a higher incidence rate of all-cause mortality compared to hypnotic nonusers (Incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14-1.43). Conversely, the mortality rate of non-BZRA hypnotics decreased after the first 2 years and was not significantly different for hypnotic nonusers (IRR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.82-1.11).

Conclusion

Among patients with COPD and insomnia, treatment with hypnotics was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality. The association was observed in patients prescribed BZRAs. The risk of mortality for non-BZRAs moderated after the first 2 years, indicating a class effect.

Should Benzodiazepines be Used for Reducing Dyspnea in Patients with Advanced Illnesses?

Dyspnea is a common and highly distressing symptom in patients with advanced illnesses. Many patients continue to experience chronic dyspnea despite optimal management of underlying disease(s) and various non-pharmacologic interventions, necessitating the consideration of pharmacologic therapies for palliation of dyspnea. One commonly asked question by clinicians is whether benzodiazepines have a role in the palliation of dyspnea. In this "Controversies in Palliative Care" article, three groups of thought leaders independently answer this question. Specifically, each group provides a synopsis of the key studies that inform their thought processes, share practical advice on their clinical approach, and highlight the opportunities for future research. All three groups suggest that benzodiazepines alone do not confer a benefit for dyspnea in advanced illnesses based on existing data. They also expressed concerns about the potential adverse effects such as delirium and drowsiness and recommended against benzodiazepines as first line pharmacologic therapy. Some groups suggest that benzodiazepines may be used in highly selected patients with severe anxiety associated with dyspnea. Some investigators may also consider the adjunctive use of benzodiazepines in patients with severe dyspnea despite opioids, particularly if life expectancy is limited. Benzodiazepines also have a role in palliative sedation for refractory dyspnea in the last days of life. More research is needed to confirm the benefit of benzodiazepines in these populations.

Clinical Markers Associated With Risk of Suicide or Drug Overdose Among Individuals With Smoking Exposure: A Longitudinal Follow-up Study of the COPDGene Cohort

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that COPD and smoking are associated with increased suicide risk. To date, there are no prospective studies examining suicide risk among individuals with smoking exposure along a spectrum of pulmonary diseases ranging from normal spirometry to severe COPD.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Which clinical variables predict death by suicide or overdose of indeterminate intent in a large cohort of individuals with smoking exposure within the Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene) study?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied data from 9,930 participants involved in COPDGene, a multisite, prospective cohort study of individuals with smoking exposure. Primary cause of adjudicated deaths was identified by using death certificates, family reports, and medical records. Time to death by suicide/overdose was examined as the primary outcome in Cox regression models including age, sex, race, BMI, pack-years, current smoking status, airflow limitation (FEV1 % predicted), dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council scale score ≥ 2), 6-min walk distance, supplemental oxygen use, and severe exacerbations in the prior year with time-varying covariates and other causes of death as a competing risk.

RESULTS

The cohort was 47% female and 33% Black (67% White); they had a mean ± SD age of 59.6 ± 9.0 years and a mean FEV1 % predicted of 76.1 ± 25.5. Sixty-three individuals died by suicide/overdose. Factors associated with risk of suicide/overdose were current smoking (hazard ratio [HR], 6.44; 95% CI, 2.64-15.67), use of sedative/hypnotics (HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.24-4.38), and dyspnea (HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.34-3.70). Lower risk was associated with older age (per-decade HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.31-0.67), higher BMI (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-0.99), and African-American race (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.74). Severity of airflow limitation (FEV % predicted) was not associated with suicide risk.

INTERPRETATION

In this well-characterized cohort of individuals with smoking exposure with and without COPD, risk factors for suicide/overdose were identified that emphasize the subjective experience of illness over objective assessments of lung function.

Sleep Deficiency, Sleep Apnea, and Chronic Lung Disease

With sleep occupying up to one-third of every adult's life, addressing sleep is essential to overall health. Sleep disturbance and deficiency are common in patients with chronic lung diseases and associated with worse clinical outcomes and poor quality of life. A detailed history incorporating nocturnal respiratory symptoms, symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and medications is the first step in identifying and addressing the multiple factors often contributing to sleep deficiency in chronic lung disease. Additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between sleep deficiency and the spectrum of chronic lung diseases.

Benefit-Risk Assessment of Psychotropic Drugs in Older Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, occur commonly in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and they are often inadequately treated. We review the available evidence for benefits and risks of pharmacologic treatments (e.g. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs], tricyclic antidepressants [TCAs], antipsychotic drugs, and benzodiazepines) for common mental illnesses in older persons with COPD. Evidence to use both SSRIs/SNRIs and TCAs from randomized controlled trials is uncertain for treating major depression in patients with COPD. However, population-based findings indicate that they are widely used, and this valuable intervention (preferably SSRIs/SNRIs) should not be denied for selected patients after evaluating potential risks and benefits, especially patients presenting with major depression and suicidal ideation, when a collaborative-care approach is being used. Although there is some evidence for the short-term use of benzodiazepines for treating insomnia, breathlessness, and anxiety in patients with COPD, their long-term use should be closely monitored or avoided to reduce the increased rate of major adverse events. Currently, there are only limited data on the use of antipsychotic drugs for managing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in older patients with COPD. Hence, clinicians should use extra caution when prescribing antipsychotic agents and be vigilant for symptoms of acute respiratory failure and other adverse effects. Psychotropic medications are clearly beneficial for younger, healthy persons with depression and anxiety; however, the risk-benefit calculation is not so clear for treating psychological problems, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder in older adults with COPD, given older-adult sensitivity to medications and the mixed findings of relatively few controlled trials.

Music therapy for stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Music therapy is increasingly being used as an intervention for stress reduction in both medical and mental healthcare settings. Music therapy is characterized by personally tailored music interventions initiated by a trained and qualified music therapist, which distinguishes music therapy from other music interventions, such as 'music medicine', which concerns mainly music listening interventions offered by healthcare professionals. To summarize the growing body of empirical research on music therapy, a multilevel meta-analysis, containing 47 studies, 76 effect sizes and 2.747 participants, was performed to assess the strength of the effects of music therapy on both physiological and psychological stress-related outcomes, and to test potential moderators of the intervention effects. Results showed that music therapy showed an overall medium-to-large effect on stress-related outcomes (d = .723, [.51-.94]). Larger effects were found for clinical controlled trials (CCT) compared to randomized controlled trials (RCT), waiting list controls instead of care as usual (CAU) or other stress-reducing interventions, and for studies conducted in Non-Western countries compared to Western countries. Implications for both music therapy and future research are discussed.

Respiratory events associated with concomitant opioid and sedative use among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Opioids and sedatives are commonly prescribed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients for symptoms of dyspnoea, pain, insomnia, depression and anxiety. Older adults are advised to avoid these medications due to increased adverse events, including respiratory events. This study examines respiratory event risks associated with concomitant opioid and sedative use compared with opioid use alone in older adults with COPD.

METHODS

A 5% nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries with COPD and opioid use between 2009 and 2013 was used for this retrospective cohort study. Current and past concomitant use were identified using drug dispensed within 7 days from the censored date: at respiratory event, at death, or at 12 months post index. Concomitant opioid and sedative use were categorised into no overlap (opioid only), 1 to 10, 11 to 30, 31 to 60 and >60 days of total overlap. The primary outcome was hospitalisation or emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory events (COPD exacerbations or respiratory depression). Propensity score matching was implemented and semi-competing risk models were used to address competing risk by death.

RESULTS

Among 48 120 eligible beneficiaries, 1810 (16.7%) concomitant users were matched with 9050 (83.3%) opioid only users. Current concomitant use of 1 to 10, 11 to 30 and 31 to 60 days was associated with increased respiratory events (HRs (95% CI): 2.8 (1.2 to 7.3), 9.3 (4.9 to 18.2) and 5.7 (2.5 to 12.5), respectively), compared with opioid only use. Current concomitant use of >60 days or past concomitant use of ≤60 days was not significantly associated with respiratory events. Consistent findings were found in sensitivity analyses, including in subgroup analysis of non-benzodiazepine sedatives. Additionally, current concomitant use significantly increased risk of death.

CONCLUSION

Short-term and medium-term current concomitant opioid and sedative use significantly increased risk of respiratory events and death in older COPD Medicare beneficiaries. Long-term past concomitant users, however, demonstrated lower risks of these outcomes, possibly reflecting a healthy user effect or developed tolerance to the effects of these agents.

Pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea in individuals with the COPD + OSA Overlap syndrome versus OSA alone

Overlap syndrome (OVS) is the concurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and is associated with poor outcomes. We hypothesized that physiological changes in COPD may affect the pathogenesis of OSA in important ways. We therefore sought to measure the anatomical and nonanatomical OSA traits in individuals with OVS and compare to those with OSA alone. Patients with established OVS were recruited, along with age, gender, and BMI matched OSA only controls. Smoking and relevant comorbidities or medications were excluded. Subjects underwent baseline polysomnography followed by an overnight physiological research study to measure the OSA traits (Veupnea , Varousal , Vpassive , Vactive , and loop gain). Fifteen subjects with OVS and 15 matched controls with OSA alone were studied (overall 66 ± 8 years, 20% women, BMI 31 ± 4 kg/m2 , apnea-hypopnea index 49 ± 36/hr). Mixed-modeling was used to incorporate each measurement (range 52-270 measures/trait), and account for age, gender, and BMI. There were no significant differences in the traits between OVS and OSA subjects, although OVS subjects potentially tolerated a lower ventilation before arousal (i.e., harder to wake; p = .06). Worsened lung function was significantly associated with worsened upper airway response and more unstable breathing (p < .05 for all). Consistent differences in key OSA traits were not observed between OVS and OSA alone. However, worse lung function does appear to exert an influence on several OSA traits. These findings indicate that a diagnosis of OVS should not generally influence the approach to OSA, but that lung function might be considered if utilizing OSA trait-specific treatment.

Association between benzodiazepines and suicide risk: a matched case-control study

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether benzodiazepines increase the risk of suicide. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that benzodiazepines are associated with an increased risk of suicide, by comparing psychopharmacological interventions between psychiatric patients who committed suicide and a group of matched controls.

METHODS

The case group comprised 154 psychiatric patients (101 men, 53 women; age range: 13-96 years) who had committed suicide in Örebro County, Sweden. Control psychiatric patients matched by age, sex, and main psychiatric diagnosis were selected for each case. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios in unadjusted and adjusted models.

RESULTS

Benzodiazepine prescriptions were more common among cases than controls (65/154 [42.2%] versus 43/154 [27.9%], p = 0.009, odds ratio: 1.89 [95% CI: 1.17-3.03]). This association remained significant in a model adjusted for previous suicide attempts and somatic hospitalizations (odds ratio: 1.83 [95% CI: 1.06-3.14]). No statistically significant differences were seen between the groups in the use of any other subtype of psychopharmaceutical agent.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that benzodiazepine use may increase the risk of suicide. However, this study is limited by the potential for indication bias.

Association of Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use with Adverse Respiratory Events in Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at substantially increased risk for medication-related adverse events. Two frequently prescribed classes of drugs that pose a particular risk to this patient group are opioids and benzodiazepines. Research on this topic has yielded conflicting findings.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine, among older adults with COPD, whether: 1) independent or concurrent use of opioid and benzodiazepine medications was associated with hospitalizations for respiratory events, and 2) this association was exacerbated by the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Methods: We conducted a case-control study of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥66 years, who were diagnosed with COPD in 2013, using the 5% national Medicare database. Cases (n = 3,232) were defined as patients hospitalized for a primary COPD-related respiratory diagnosis in 2014 and were matched with up to two control subjects (n = 6,247) on index date, age, sex, socioeconomic status, comorbidity, presence of OSA, COPD medication, and COPD complexity.Results: In comparison to the referent (no opioid or benzodiazepine use), opioid use alone (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-1.97), benzodiazepine use alone (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.21-1.66), and concurrent opioid/ benzodiazepine use (aOR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.94-2.77) in the 30 days before the event/index date were all associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for a respiratory condition. Risk of hospitalization was higher with concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use when compared with use of either medication alone. There was no statistically significant interaction between OSA and either of the drugs, alone or in combination. However, the adverse respiratory effects of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use were increased in patients with a high degree of COPD complexity. All of the above findings persisted using exposure windows that extended to 60 and 90 days before the event/index date.Conclusions: Among older adults with COPD, use of opioid and benzodiazepine medications alone or in combination were associated with increased adverse respiratory events. The adverse effects of these medications were not exacerbated in patients with COPD-OSA overlap syndrome. However, the adverse impact of dual opioid and benzodiazepine was greater in patients with high-complexity COPD.

Center Predictors of Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Rationale: Symptoms of insomnia and anxiety are common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially among patients with comorbid mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Benzodiazepines provide temporary relief of these symptoms, but guidelines discourage routine use of benzodiazepines because of the serious risks posed by these medications. A more thorough understanding of guideline-discordant benzodiazepine use will be critical to reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing and its associated risks.Objectives: Examine the national prevalence, variability, and center correlates of long-term benzodiazepine prescriptions for patients with COPD and comorbid PTSD.Methods: We identified patients with COPD and PTSD between 2010 and 2012 who received care within the Department of Veterans Affairs. We used a mixed-effects logistic regression model to assess center predictors of long-term benzodiazepine prescriptions (≥90 d), while accounting for patient characteristics.Results: Of 43,979 patients diagnosed with COPD and PTSD at 129 centers, 24.4% were prescribed benzodiazepines long term, with use varying from 9.5% to 49.4% by medical center. Patients with long-term prescriptions were more likely to be white (90.1% vs. 80.7%) and have other mental health comorbidities, including generalized anxiety disorder (31.3% vs. 16.5%). Accounting for patient mix and characteristics, long-term benzodiazepine use was associated with lower patient-reported access to mental health care (odds ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.80).Conclusions: Long-term benzodiazepine prescribing is common among patients at high risk for complications, although this practice varies substantially from center to center. Poor access to mental health care is a potential driver of this guideline inconsistent use.