Outcomes of antipsychotic drug use in community-dwelling elders with dementia

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2006 Oct;20(5):217-25. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2006.04.004.

Abstract

This study used administrative data from a large health care insurer in the southeast United States to describe the utilization pattern and health care outcomes of antipsychotic drug use in community-dwelling elders with dementia. Claims data from 959 unique cases were analyzed to address research aims. Overall, 27% of the sample was dispensed antipsychotic drugs, with the most prevalent type being atypical antipsychotic drugs. Individuals on any type of antipsychotic drug experienced more delirium, depression, hip fracture, falls, and syncope than those not on these drugs, even after controlling for age, sex, comorbidity, and number of other drugs prescribed. Implications for practice are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antipsychotic Agents* / adverse effects
  • Antipsychotic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Delirium / chemically induced
  • Dementia / drug therapy*
  • Depression / chemically induced
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Services Research
  • Hip Fractures / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Insurance Claim Reporting / statistics & numerical data
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychiatric Nursing
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Southeastern United States
  • Syncope / chemically induced

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents