ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
The epidemiology of new persistent hypnotic/sedative use after surgical procedures: a retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
While a small ratio of surgical patients initiates the use of hypnotics/sedatives in the peri-operative period, a substantial proportion of these develop persistent use, which is associated with adverse outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Surgical patients; hypnotic/sedative prescriptions from the National Prescription Medicine Registry43,297 naive
- Participants
- 55,414 patients
- Exposure
- New persistent hypnotic/sedative use vs remained naive
- Naiven = 43,297reference
- Outcome
- Incidence of new persistent hypnotic/sedative use after surgery
- Follow-up
- 15–365 days after surgery
Methodological detailsnational prescription registry
- National prescription registry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
New peri-operative and new persistent hypnotic/sedative use among naive patients
New peri-operative use among naive patients
4.6%
New persistent use among new peri-operative users
51.6%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term mortality | 1.39 (1.22–1.59) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Factors associated with new persistent use
- Increased risk with older age, female sex, malignant neoplasm, ischaemic heart disease, cardiac or thoracic surgery
Trend over time
- Proportion using hypnotics/sedatives declined; risk of persistent use stable
Original publication
The epidemiology of new persistent hypnotic/sedative use after surgical procedures: a retrospective cohort study. Anaesthesia. Published 15 May 2023. doi:10.
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