Background and Aims:
Benzodiazepines and Z drugs (BZD/Z drugs) are commonly used for the treatment of insomnia andanxiety in older adults for long periods of time. Given the physiological and metabolic characteristics of thisgroup of patients, they are more prone to the adverse eﬀects of these drugs which include falls. The re-commendations for use of BZD/Z drugs include the need to adjust the dose and select those with a short half-life,to avoid adverse events, which as well as potentially aﬀecting patient outcome, increase healthcare costs. In thisstudy, we have evaluated the hospital-related costs associated with falls in older adults who use BZD/Z drugs atdoses higher than recommended for this age group.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional observational study assessing the BZD/Z drug prescriptions of olderadults attending the emergency department after a fall. Cost analysis was performed for cases in which theprescriptions exceeded the maximum recommended dose for this age group.
Results:
A total of 40.6% of the prescriptions recorded were higher than the deﬁned daily dose in older adults(DDDolderadults). Of the 57 patients who used BZD/Z drugs at higher-than-recommended doses, 53 experiencedtrauma and 33 required hospitalisation. The costs associated with emergency department services, tests per-formed and hospitalisation amounted to €1850/patient
Conclusions:
Appropriate dosage of BZD/Z drugs in older adults could reduce both patient suﬀering and costs forthe health system.

15 - OVERDOSING OF BENZODIAZEPINES/Z-DRUGS AND FALLS IN OLDER ADULTS: COSTS FORTHE HEALTH SYSTEM