JAMA Netw Open

Study finds little change in medication use among older drivers after motor vehicle crashes

October 11, 2024

Older drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) didn’t significantly reduce use of potentially driver-impairing (PDI) medications after the crash. This finding suggests that MVCs don’t significantly motivate older adults to reduce their use of PDI medications, highlighting the need for further research into the perceived risks and benefits of these drugs.

This cohort study included data from 154,096 person-crashes among 121,846 drivers aged ≥66 years in New Jersey, using linked Medicare claims and police-reported MVC data from 2007 to 2017. Researchers examined the use of benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, opioid analgesics, and other PDI medications in the 120 days before and after the crashes. Primary outcomes measured were the initiation, discontinuation, and continuation of these medications post crash.

Roughly 80% of drivers used ≥1 PDI medication before the crash, and this increased slightly to 81% after the crash. Specifically, the use of benzodiazepines rose from 8.1% to 8.8%, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics from 5.9% to 6.0%, and opioid analgesics from 15.4% to 17.5%.

Source:

Zullo AR, et al. (2024, October 1). JAMA Netw Open. Medication Changes Among Older Drivers Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39382896/