We also conducted age-stratified analysis to clarify the burden of psychotropic medications in the elderly, particularly since earlier studies have found that older adults were more likely to receive benzodiazepines and opioids.2,35,36 Most studies that have identified a positive association between benzodiazepines and all-cause mortality were conducted in predominantly adult or young adult populations,16,17,20 which makes the mortality risk associated with benzodiazepine use in older adults a poorly understood area. We found no evidence of increased all-cause mortality stemming from benzodiazepine-opioid cotreatment in participants aged 65 years or older, which parallels similar null findings among elderly patients receiving benzodiazepines without opioids.37 There was a consistently elevated mortality risk in participants younger than 65 years, which may be associated with surging drug poisoning–related mortality that disproportionately affects younger US populations.38
