Benzodiazepine and Sedative-hypnotic Use Among Older Seriously Ill Veterans: Choosing Wisely?

The potentially inappropriate BSHs documented in our sample included short- and intermediate-acting benzodiazepines, medications that were not identified as potentially inappropriate for older adults until after these data were collected. Few long-acting benzodiazepines were recorded, suggesting that the older veterans in our sample were receiving medications according to the guidelines in place at the time of hospitalization. Clinicians may be able to reduce prescriptions of newly identified inappropriate BSHs by being aware of medications patients received before hospitalization and by being cognizant of racial/ethnic disparities in symptom management. Future studies should explore reasons for disparities in BSH prescriptions.