Benzodiazepine Use as an Independent Risk Factor for HIV Infection in a Canadian setting

Between May, 1996 and November, 2013, data were derived through a prospective cohort study of PWID in Vancouver, Canada. A total of 1682 baseline HIV negative participants were followed for a median of 79.5 months (interquartile range: 32.1-119.1), among whom 501 (29.8%) reported benzodiazepine use at baseline, and 176 seroconverted during follow-up, equal to an incidence density of 1.5 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.3-1.7) cases per 100 person-years. Poisson regression with time-dependent variables was used to assess whether benzodiazepine use was associated with the time to HIV seroconversion.

After adjustment for potential confounders, benzodiazepine use (Adjusted Rate Ratio: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.01-2.24) was independently associated with a higher rate of HIV seroconversion.

Benzodiazepine use was an independent risk factor for HIV seroconversion among PWID in this setting. Greater recognition of the safety concerns related to benzodiazepine medications including diversion are needed.

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By: Ickowicz S1, Hayashi K2, Dong H1, Milloy MJ2, Kerr T2, Montaner JS2, Wood E3.

• 1British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Canada.
• 2British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada.
• 3British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada.  

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