Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29360821›Full record

ArticlePloS one2018

Patterns of zolpidem use among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Ramona Shayegani, Kangwon Song, Megan E Amuan, Carlos A Jaramillo, Blessen C Eapen, Mary Jo Pugh

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Breathing new life into PTSD-related sleep disorders!Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2024
    Article
  2. Acute sleep interventions as an avenue for treatment of trauma-associated disorders.Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2022
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Sleep in PTSD: treatment approaches and outcomes.Current opinion in psychology · 2020
    Review
  5. The relationship between military occupation and diagnosed insomnia following combat deployment.Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2020
    Article
  6. Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2020
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Ramona ShayeganiVA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America.
Kangwon SongSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0001-6642-8753
Megan E AmuanCenter for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Carlos A JaramilloSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
Blessen C EapenSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
Mary Jo PughSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · USEdith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital · USVA Southern Nevada Healthcare System · US

Funding

HSRD VA I01 HX000717HSRD VA I01 HX001304RRD VA I21 RX002060
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough concern exists regarding the adverse effects and rate of zolpidem use, especially long-term use, limited information is available concerning patterns of zolpidem use.

objectiveTo examine the prevalence and correlates of zolpidem exposure in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (IAVs).

methodsA retrospective cohort study of zolpidem prescriptions was performed with National Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data. We gathered national VA inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy data files for IAV's who received VA care between fiscal years (FY) 2013 and 2014. The VA pharmacy database was used to identify the prevalence of long term (>30 days), high-dose zolpidem exposure (>10mg immediate-release; >12.5mg extended-release) and other medications received in FY14. Baseline characteristics (demographics, diagnoses) were identified in FY13. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the demographic, clinical, and medication correlates of zolpidem use.

resultsOf 493,683 IAVs who received VHA care in FY 2013 and 2014, 7.6% (n = 37,422) were prescribed zolpidem in FY 2014. Women had lower odds of high-dose zolpidem exposure than men. The majority (77.3%) of IAVs who received zolpidem prescriptions had long-term use with an average days' supply of 189.3 days and a minority (0.9%) had high-dose exposure. In multivariable analyses, factors associated with long-term zolpidem exposure included age greater than 29 years old, PTSD, insomnia, Selim Index, physical 2-3 conditions, opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, atypical antipsychotics, and stimulants. High dose exposure was associated with PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, insomnia, benzodiazepines, atypical antipsychotics, and stimulant prescriptions.

conclusionThe current practices of insomnia pharmacotherapy in IAVs fall short of the clinical guidelines and may reflect high-risk zolpidem prescribing practices that put Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans at risk for adverse effects of zolpidem and poor health outcomes.

Indexed as

VeteransAdultAfghan Campaign 2001-Dose-Response Relationship, DrugFemaleHumansHypnotics and SedativesIraq War, 2003-2011MaleMiddle AgedPyridinesRetrospective StudiesZolpidemHypnotics and SedativesPyridinesZolpidem

Identifiers

PMID29360821
PMCPMC5779650
OpenAlexW2793948477

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.