Toxicity of benzodiazepines in the treatment of insomnia disorders in older adults: a systematic literature review.

AIM: To review the literature data on the prevalence of benzodiazepines abuse and poisoning in older adults; the prevalence of polypharmacy with benzodiazepines in this demographic; and determine whether benzodiazepine anxiolytics or hypnotics were more frequently implicated in the cases of abuse and poisoning. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Scopus for relevant studies published from January 1, 2013, to May 1, 2023. Twelve studies were included in the final selection. RESULTS: The review highlights the diverse prevalence rates of benzodiazepine abuse and poisoning in the older adult population. Benzodiazepine anxiolytics were more frequently associated with negative outcomes than benzodiazepine hypnotics. Concurrent use of benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-related medications, and opioids was reported, although these medications were not the only ones commonly used by the elderly. CONCLUSION: It is essential to increase awareness about adhering to prescribed pharmacological therapies to mitigate issues related to drug abuse and poisoning among older adults.

Linkage Health and Environmental Data: A Case Study on Asthma Prevalence in Children and Adolescents in Slovenia.

For the last 10 years there is no data on the prevalence of asthma in Slovenian children. To ensure accurate and high-quality data we will conduct a cross-sectional survey Health Interview (HIS) and Health Examination Survey (HES) design type. Therefore, we first prepared the study protocol. To get the data for the HIS part of the study we developed a new questionnaire. The exposure to outdoor air quality will be evaluated from the National Air Quality network data. In Slovenia the problems with health data should be addressed with the common unified system at the national level.