Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study

Objectives Central nervous system depressants (CNSDs) such as opioids, benzodiazepine and Z-hypnotics are commonly used. However, CNSDs may influence cognitive function, especially in older hospitalised patients with comorbidities. The aim was to examine the association between CNSD use and cognitiv...

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Main Authors: Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen, Christofer Lundqvist, Socheat Cheng, Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui, Michael Gossop, Ramune Grambaite
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-07-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/7/e038432.full
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author Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen
Christofer Lundqvist
Socheat Cheng
Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui
Michael Gossop
Ramune Grambaite
author_facet Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen
Christofer Lundqvist
Socheat Cheng
Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui
Michael Gossop
Ramune Grambaite
author_sort Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen
collection DOAJ
description Objectives Central nervous system depressants (CNSDs) such as opioids, benzodiazepine and Z-hypnotics are commonly used. However, CNSDs may influence cognitive function, especially in older hospitalised patients with comorbidities. The aim was to examine the association between CNSD use and cognitive function in older patients. We assessed global and domain specific cognitive function, among hospitalised older patients, including covariates for comorbidity, anxiety and depression.Design Cross-sectional hospital-based study.Settings Data was collected consecutively from inpatients at somatic wards of a general university hospital.Participants Older patients between 65 and 90 years with/without CNSD use for ≥4 weeks.Outcome measures The main outcome was cognitive function assessed by Cognistat. Secondary outcomes were routine clinical tests in the wards (mini-mental state examination (MMSE), trail making test (TMT) A and B, and clock drawing tests). Analyses were bivariate and multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, gender, and education. Covariates were comorbidity, depression and anxiety scores.Results The main result indicated that CNSD users (n=100) had (β=–3.4, 95% CI 6.27 to –0.58, p=0.017) lower Cognistat score than non-users (n=146), adjusted for age, gender, education, anxiety and depression, but not significant when including covariate for comorbidity (β= –2.50 - 5.45; –0.46, p=0.097). Comorbidity was associated with cognitive function (β=−0.77, 95% CI −1.22 to −0.14, p=0.014). Cognistat subdimensions associated with CNSD use were language (p=0.017) and calculation (p=0.003). In clock drawing test, users had lower scores than non-users (β=−0.80, 95% CI 1.24 to −0.36, p=0.004), but no significant difference was found with MMSE and TMT A or B. Z-hypnotics were associated with reduced cognitive function.Conclusion Among older hospitalised patients, global cognition and specific cognitive functions were associated with long-term use of CNSD medication as well as with somatic comorbidity.Trial registration number NCT03162081, 22 May 2017.
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spelling doaj-art-d36f3d9b787a4bc4834fba1ae47f284e2024-12-05T04:15:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-07-0110710.1136/bmjopen-2020-038432Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional studyEspen Saxhaug Kristoffersen0Christofer Lundqvist1Socheat Cheng2Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui3Michael Gossop4Ramune Grambaite5Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, NorwayAkershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway2 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, Lørenskog, NorwayNorwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayAkershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, NorwayObjectives Central nervous system depressants (CNSDs) such as opioids, benzodiazepine and Z-hypnotics are commonly used. However, CNSDs may influence cognitive function, especially in older hospitalised patients with comorbidities. The aim was to examine the association between CNSD use and cognitive function in older patients. We assessed global and domain specific cognitive function, among hospitalised older patients, including covariates for comorbidity, anxiety and depression.Design Cross-sectional hospital-based study.Settings Data was collected consecutively from inpatients at somatic wards of a general university hospital.Participants Older patients between 65 and 90 years with/without CNSD use for ≥4 weeks.Outcome measures The main outcome was cognitive function assessed by Cognistat. Secondary outcomes were routine clinical tests in the wards (mini-mental state examination (MMSE), trail making test (TMT) A and B, and clock drawing tests). Analyses were bivariate and multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, gender, and education. Covariates were comorbidity, depression and anxiety scores.Results The main result indicated that CNSD users (n=100) had (β=–3.4, 95% CI 6.27 to –0.58, p=0.017) lower Cognistat score than non-users (n=146), adjusted for age, gender, education, anxiety and depression, but not significant when including covariate for comorbidity (β= –2.50 - 5.45; –0.46, p=0.097). Comorbidity was associated with cognitive function (β=−0.77, 95% CI −1.22 to −0.14, p=0.014). Cognistat subdimensions associated with CNSD use were language (p=0.017) and calculation (p=0.003). In clock drawing test, users had lower scores than non-users (β=−0.80, 95% CI 1.24 to −0.36, p=0.004), but no significant difference was found with MMSE and TMT A or B. Z-hypnotics were associated with reduced cognitive function.Conclusion Among older hospitalised patients, global cognition and specific cognitive functions were associated with long-term use of CNSD medication as well as with somatic comorbidity.Trial registration number NCT03162081, 22 May 2017.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/7/e038432.full
spellingShingle Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen
Christofer Lundqvist
Socheat Cheng
Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui
Michael Gossop
Ramune Grambaite
Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study
BMJ Open
title Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study
title_full Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study
title_short Association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs, comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study
title_sort association between prescribed central nervous system depressant drugs comorbidity and cognition among hospitalised older patients a cross sectional study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/7/e038432.full
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