Report: Certain sedatives and sleeping aids endanger seniors' hips

A Harvard Medical School researcher, along with colleagues, has identified the use of benzodiazepine sedatives and sleeping aids as leading to an increased risk of broken hips in the elderly.

The use of benzodiazepine increased the rate of hip fracture 24% (after adjustments were made for age, sex, dementia, recent care settings and other factors) in a study of more than 125,203 people, according to the researchers' report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. They said they found 2,312 hip fractures, based on hospital claim information.

The study also found that short-life, half-potency benzodiazepines led to twice the likelihood of hip fracture than longer-life benzodiazepines. Research also showed that the fracture rate was the highest in the two weeks after starting the medication.