[Health-related quality of life in patients consuming benzodiazepine].

Abstract

To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in benzodiazepine users and to verify whether there is an association with the characteristics of the treatment, its effectiveness, and the sociodemographic variables. Descriptive cross-sectional study. Family medicine consultations. Four hundred and fifty 2patients over 18 years of age consuming benzodiazepines or similar drugs. HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQol5-D questionnaire. Other variables: symptoms of anxiety or insomnia, sociodemographic variables and characteristics of the treatment. The mean score in health status was 62.80 (95% CI: 60.69-64.86), lower in people without studies (59.27±21.97 SD; P=.004) and lower social category (60.02±21.27 SD; P Patients who use benzodiazepines show, despite treatment, a moderate HRQL, lower than that obtained in the general population or in primary care patients. The situation is more favorable in the youngest, in those who do not present anxiety/insomnia, in those belonging to higher social classes and when the consumption of drugs is lower.