Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies

Study	Quality score*	No	Drug dose, length of treatment	Study population	Study design
Ancoli-Israel 199918	4	549	Zaleplon 5 mg, 10 mg; zolpidem 5 mg, 14 nights	Age range 65-91 (mean 71.67); outpatients; placebo responders excluded (enriched sample)	Parallel, multicentre
Bayer et al, 198319	3	40	Loprazolam 1 mg, nitrazepam 5 mg, 7 nights	Age range 70-88 (mean 75.5); hospital inpatients, enriched sample	Parallel, single centre
Bayer et al, 198620	4	53	Loprazolam 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 5 nights	Age range 68-89 (mean 77.8); hospital inpatients	Parallel, single centre
Bayer et al, 198638	4	53	Triazolam 0.125 mg, chlormethiazole 384 mg, 9 weeks	Age range 70-91, nursing home and hospital inpatients	Parallel, single centre
Caldwell et al, 198239	4	57	Quazepam 15 mg, 5 nights	Age range 60-81, outpatients	Parallel, single centre
Dehlin et al, 198321	3	40	Triazolam 0.25 mg; nitrazepam 5 mg, 14 nights	Age range 66-91 (mean 83); residents of home for aged and hospital inpatients	Crossover, washout 7 nights, multicentre
Dehlin et al, 199522	3	107	Zopiclone 5 mg, flunitrazepam 1 mg, 14 nights	Age range 60-95 (mean 79); “geriatric clinic” patients	Parallel, multicentre
Elie et al, 199023	2	44	Zopiclone, triazolam (dose adjusted to response), 21 nights	Age range 60-90 (mean 76); residents in homes for aged	Parallel, single centre
Fairweather et al, 199224	2	24	Zolpidem 5 mg, 10 mg, 7 nights	Age range 63-80 (mean 71); outpatients	Crossover, washout 7 nights, single centre
Hedner et al, 200025	2	437	Zaleplon, 5 mg, 10 mg, 14 nights	Age range 59-95 (mean 72.5); outpatients	Parallel, multicentre
Klimm et al, 198726	4	74	Zopiclone 7.5 mg, nitrazepam 5 mg, 7 nights	Mean age 73.2; outpatients	Parallel, single centre
Lachnit et al, 198327	4	46	Midazolam 15 mg, Vesperax†, 5 nights	Age range 57-90 (mean age 77); inpatients	Parallel, single centre
Leppik et al, 199728	4	335	Zolpidem 5 mg, triazolam 0.125 mg, temazepam 15 mg, 28 nights	Age range 59-85 (mean 69); participant characteristics not reported	Parallel, multicentre
Mamelak et al, 198929	4	36	Brotizolam 0.25 mg, flurazepam 15 mg, 14 nights	Age range 60-72, participants' characteristics not reported	Parallel, single centre
Meuleman et al, 198730	3	17	Temazepam 15 mg, diphenhydramine 50 mg, 5 nights	Age range 56-97 (mean 71.1); nursing home patients	Crossover, washout 72 hr, single centre
Morin et al, 199931	4	40	Temazepam 7.5-30 mg (dose adjusted to response), 2-7 times per week, 8 weeks	Mean age 65, outpatients	Parallel, single centre
Mouret et al, 199040	4	10	Triazolam 0.25 mg, zopiclone 7.5 mg, 15 nights	Mean age 68.1, outpatients	Parallel, single centre
Murphy et al, 198232	6	18	Nitrazepam 2.5 mg, triazolam 0.125 mg, 5 nights	Mean age 80.1; inpatients	Parallel, single centre
Overstall et al, 198733	4	62	Lormetazepam 1 mg, chlormethiazole 384 mg, 7 nights	Mean age 80.7, inpatients	Parallel, single centre
Reeves, 197734	3	41	Triazolam 0.25 mg, flurazepam 15 mg, 28 nights	Age range 63-78 (mean 68.6); outpatients	Parallel, single centre
Richards et al, 198835	4	145	Lormetazepam 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 7 nights	Mean age 72.5; participant characteristics not reported	Parallel, multicentre
Roger et al, 199336	4	221	Zolpidem 5 mg, 10 mg, triazolam 0.25 mg, 21 nights	Age range 58-98 (mean 81.1); inpatients	Parallel, multicentre
Roth et al, 199741	4	30	Quazepam 7.5 mg, 15 mg, 7 nights	Mean age 65.9, outpatients	Parallel, single centre
Viukari et al, 198437	3	32	Brotizolam 0.125 mg, nitrazepam 2.5 mg, 7 nights	Age range 62-98 (mean 81); residents in old people's home	Crossover, washout 7 nights, single centre

^*Score out of 6, 1 for blinding+3 for method of randomisation and allocation concealment, 2 for follow-up (Jadad criteria).

^†Vesperax=hydroxyzine 50 mg, brallobarbital 50 mg, secobarbital 150 mg, not evaluated here.