Polypharmacy among older adults with dementia compared with those without dementia in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

In older persons with dementia (PWD), extensive medication use is often unnecessary, discordant with goals of care, and possibly harmful. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and medication constituents of polypharmacy among older PWD attending outpatient visits in the United States.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting and participants

PWD and persons without dementia (PWOD) aged ≥65 years attending outpatient visits recorded in the nationally representative National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), 2014-2016.

Measurements

PWD were identified as those with a diagnosis of dementia on the NAMCS encounter form and/or those receiving an anti-dementia medication. Visits with PWD and PWOD were compared in terms

SUBMITTER: Growdon ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8440349 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature