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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Antidementia drug treatment in dementia networks in Germany: use rates and factors associated with treatment use

Authors: Markus Wübbeler, Diana Wucherer, Johannes Hertel, Bernhard Michalowsky, Steffen Heinrich, Saskia Meyer, Susanne Schaefer-Walkmann, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Jochen René Thyrian

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Dementia networks in Germany constitute a specialised setting for integrated dementia care and have shown benefits on relevant outcomes, including those of drug treatment. National guidelines recommend treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine) or the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate antagonist (memantine) to reduce cognitive symptoms. However, prescription rates are lower than 30 % in general practises. This study aims to describe antidementia drug treatment and the factors that are associated with the treatment in different dementia networks across Germany.

Methods

We have analysed the socio-demographic, clinical and utilisation data from 560 patients with dementia (PWD), as well as data from their caregivers, in 13 selected dementia networks in Germany. The patients and caregivers were interviewed in their homes or in the network facilities. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the utilisation of antidementia drug treatment in the various networks.

Results

In all of the networks in the study, 52 % of the participants received an antidementia drug treatment. Factors associated with the utilisation of the antidementia drug treatment were: formal diagnosis (OR = 16.81, p < 0.001), association with a physician in the network (OR = 3.69, p < 0.001), higher number of comorbidities (OR = 0.88, p = 0.039), living alone (OR = 0.51, p = 0.032) and higher age (OR = 2.97, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Medical treatment of PWD with antidementia drugs in dementia networks in Germany is more frequent than in primary and nursing home care settings. Our findings also suggest that participants with a formal diagnosis and a physician in the network have increased rates of receiving antidementia drug treatments. These findings suggest that dementia networks focusing on medical treatment should support diagnostic procedures and incorporate physician specialists.
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Metadata
Title
Antidementia drug treatment in dementia networks in Germany: use rates and factors associated with treatment use
Authors
Markus Wübbeler
Diana Wucherer
Johannes Hertel
Bernhard Michalowsky
Steffen Heinrich
Saskia Meyer
Susanne Schaefer-Walkmann
Wolfgang Hoffmann
Jochen René Thyrian
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-0855-7

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