Sedative Prescriptions After Discharge Linked To Adverse Events In Older Adults

29 Jun 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

Background: Whether sedative prescriptions after hospital admissions are associated with poor patient outcomes is unknown. We sought to determine the incidence and risk of adverse events associated with sedatives in older adults within 30 days after hospital discharge.
Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study involving older adults (age ≥ 66 yr) discharged alive from hospital in Ontario (2003 to 2023). We assessed the association of sedative prescriptions (benzodiazepines, antidepressant sedatives, or antipsychotics) filled within 7 days after discharge with falls (with or without fracture), emergency department (ED) visits, and hospital readmission.
We used cause-specific proportional hazard regression for outcomes other than death and Cox proportional hazard models for death to assess the association between a sedative prescription filled after discharge and the outcomes. Because of an interaction with prehospital sedative prescription, we stratified results for prehospital sedative-naive and sedative-exposed status.
Results: Among 1 868 484 older adults (mean age 77 yr, 52.1% female), 13.2% filled a sedative prescription after discharge; of these patients, 31.0% were sedative naive before hospital admission.

Clinical Editorial

CMAJ published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 29 Jun 2026.

The item focuses on Association between sedative prescriptions after hospital discharge and falls and other adverse events in older adults: a population-based cohort study [Research].

Review the original article for the full source wording and details.