Intended for healthcare professionals

Use of lithium and the risk of injurious motor vehicle crash in elderly adults: case-control study nested within a cohort

Mahyar Etminan, Brenda Hemmelgarn, J A C Delaney, Samy Suissa

Rate ratios for having been involved as a driver in an injurious motor vehicle crash (cases), according to drug use

Rate ratio
Drug useNo of cases (n=5579)No of controls (n=13 300)CrudeAdjusted* (95% CI)
Lithium
Any use in the year before index date:20271.771.80 (1.00 to 3.24)
1-4 prescriptions280.600.71 (0.15 to 3.45)
≥5 prescriptions18192.262.18 (1.14 to 4.19)
Current use (within 60 days before index date)19222.062.08 (1.11 to 3.90)
Carbamazepine
Any use in the year before index date:36791.091.04 (0.70 to 1.54)
1-4 prescriptions18411.051.02 (0.58 to 1.79)
≥5 prescriptions18381.131.05 (0.58 to 1.85)
Current use (within 60 days before index date)18480.900.83 (0.48 to 1.44)
  • * Adjusted for age, sex, residence in the country, previous involvement in an injurious motor vehicle crash, chronic disease score, and exposure in the 60 days before the index date to antidepressants, anti-epileptics, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antimigraine drugs, muscle relaxants, or narcotic analgesics.

  • † The date of each driver's first crash in the follow up period (for cases) or a random date (for controls).