Quality of Life Assessment in Patients Using Benzodiazepines during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Community Pharmacy Using EuroQol 5D-3L

Abstract

Users of benzodiazepines (BZDs) should have their quality of life monitored to minimize the risks associated with long-term treatments. The aim of this study is to use the EuroQol 5D-3L to analyze the quality of life of 127 patients under treatment with BZDs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that lorazepam comprises 25.49% of all dispensing requests, and that the mean duration of BZDs treatments is four years (range: 0.3–25). When rating their general health status, BZDs users reported 59.29 points out of 100. Thirty-two percent of patients reported mobility problems; 16.5% reported having a lot of pain or discomfort despite being treated with BZDs, and 16.54% used a BZD together with an opioid analgesic. The EuroQol 5D-3L dimension “anxiety/depression” showed that, despite the use of BZDs, 48.2% of the patients reported being moderately anxious or depressed and 13.4% described themselves as very anxious or depressed. Nevertheless, 37.8% of BZDs users were identified as potential candidates to follow a BZD deprescription plan. In conclusion, BZDs users showed a low quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older patients and females have been identified as groups of patients that could benefit from integrating the use of the EuroQol 5D-3L instrument into the protocols of the pharmaceutical care follow up.

Mortality and health-related quality of life in older adults with long-term use of opioids, z-hypnotics or benzodiazepines: a prospective observational study at 5 years follow-up

“…While these may be symptoms of disease, they are also factors that have major impact on experienced HRQoL. Although there is research suggesting that long-term use of CNSDs is associated with reported poorer HRQoL, [15][16][17] it is also reasonable to argue that pharmacological options that address symptoms potentially associated with reduced HRQoL should, in fact, improve it. The EuroQuol Group EQ-5D-5L instruments measure HRQoL through the five dimensions, mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/ discomfort and anxiety/depression.…”

“…6 11-14 Although these medications are indicated to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL), research suggests that long-term use is associated with poorer HRQoL. [15][16][17] Finally, these medications are, either on their own or in combination with each other, associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]…”

Exploring the Efficacy of Psychotropic Drug Combinations for Covid-19 Depression

“…Bromazepam and clonazepam had the lowest percentages of dispensing requests, with 8.50% and 5.88% respectively. Finally, the least prescribed benzodiazepines were ketazolam (1.96%), flurazepam (1.96%), and clobazam (1.31%), indicating their limited use as therapeutic options in the community (ARMAS et al, 2023).…”

Intervenciones farmacéuticas en usuarios de benzodiacepinas durante la pandemia COVID-19

“…Si bien las BZD se consideran fármacos seguros en tratamientos cortos, el uso prolongado y dosis superiores a las recomendadas se asocian con efectos adversos como deterioro cognitivo, tolerancia y dependencia, caídas (con riesgo de fracturas de cadera) y accidentes de tráfico, entre otros (8)(9)(10).…”