Benzodiazepine or Antipsychotic Use and Mortality Risk Among Patients With Dementia in Hospice Care

In this national case-control study of nursing home residents with ADRD receiving hospice care, initiation of benzodiazepine or antipsychotic use was associated with increased 180-day mortality. While these medications may provide symptom relief in appropriate clinical scenarios, their use is associated with substantial risks. These findings highlight the need for careful prescribing decisions and the development of dementia-specific hospice prescribing guidelines.