Prescription Trends of Medications Used to Treat Sleep Disturbances in School-Aged Children: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis in France, 2016-2023

IF 3.9 2区医学 Q1 PEDIATRICS

Journal of Pediatrics Pub Date : 2025-02-05 DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114502

Zaba Valtuille MsC , Eric Acquaviva PhD , Vincent Trebossen MD , Naim Ouldali PhD , Aurelie Bourmaud PhD , Stéphane Sclison MBA , Alexandre Gomez BSc , Alexis Revet PhD , Hugo Peyre MD , Richard Delorme MD , Florentia Kaguelidou PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To assess rates and trends of hypnotic medication prescriptions for children and adolescents.

Study design

Cross-sectional study of national dispensing data between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2023, in France. Prescriptions of hypnotic medications (hydroxyzine, alimemazine, melatonin, and Z-drugs) dispensed to children aged 6-17 years were analyzed. Monthly rates of hypnotic prescriptions per 1000 children were modeled before and after the pandemic onset (March 2020) to assess rate and trend changes. Rate ratios (RRs) were calculated between estimated and expected prescription rates.

Results

Overall, 2 675 142 prescriptions were dispensed to an average yearly population of 9 963 497 children. In January 2016, prescription rate of hypnotic medications was estimated at 1.9 per 1000 and at 6.8 per 1000 in December 2023, with postpandemic onset rates exceeding the expected by 131% (RR: 2.31, 95% CI: 2.08; 2.54). Prescription trends increased for all medications from −0.1% (95% CI: −0.2; 0.1%) per month prepandemic to +1.4% (95% CI: 1.2; 1.6%) after the pandemic onset for hydroxyzine; +0.1% (95% CI: 0.0; 0.2%) to +0.9% (95% CI: 0.7; 1.0%) for alimemazine; +2.2% (95% CI: 2.0; 2.3%) to +4.4% (95% CI: 3.9; 4.9%) for melatonin; and −3.2% (95% CI: −3.6;−2.8%) to +1.8% (95% CI: 1.4; 2.2%) for Z-drugs. Monthly prescription rates exceeded the expected by 38% (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.31; 1.46) for hydroxyzine; 19% (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.15; 1.22) for alimemazine; 344% (RR: 4.44, 95% CI: 4.07; 4.80) for melatonin; and 419% (RR: 5.19, 95% CI: 4.24; 6.14) for Z-drugs.

Conclusions

Recent substantial increases in hypnotic medication prescribing for children are possibly related to their persistently deteriorating mental health, changes in prescribing strategies, and/or unmet pre-existing needs.

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来源期刊

Journal of Pediatrics 医学-小儿科

CiteScore

6.00

自引率

2.00%

发文量

696

审稿时长

31 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Pediatrics is an international peer-reviewed journal that advances pediatric research and serves as a practical guide for pediatricians who manage health and diagnose and treat disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. The Journal publishes original work based on standards of excellence and expert review. The Journal seeks to publish high quality original articles that are immediately applicable to practice (basic science, translational research, evidence-based medicine), brief clinical and laboratory case reports, medical progress, expert commentary, grand rounds, insightful editorials, “classic” physical examinations, and novel insights into clinical and academic pediatric medicine related to every aspect of child health. Published monthly since 1932, The Journal of Pediatrics continues to promote the latest developments in pediatric medicine, child health, policy, and advocacy. Topics covered in The Journal of Pediatrics include, but are not limited to: General Pediatrics Pediatric Subspecialties Adolescent Medicine Allergy and Immunology Cardiology Critical Care Medicine Developmental-Behavioral Medicine Endocrinology Gastroenterology Hematology-Oncology Infectious Diseases Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Emergency Medicine Pulmonology Rheumatology Genetics Ethics Health Service Research Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine.