Abstract Details

Title Examining Anti-Dementia Drug Persistence in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Patients

Topic Aging and Dementia

Presentation(s) P07 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 140

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine are the only FDA approved medications for treating Alzheimer's disease. Persistent treatment may slow the rate of decline (Rountree et al 2009, Atri et al 2008, Lopez et al 2009), while discontinuation is linked to cognitive and behavioral worsening (Doody et al 2001). Data regarding persistence of anti-dementia drug use in outpatients is scarce.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: Of 1106 consecutive patients with probable AD followed longitudinally, 1073 had complete information regarding cumulative anti-dementia drug use (start and stop dates) from the time of initial symptoms onward. We examined demographic and neuropsychological data for each of the following five groups of patients: those who never took anti-dementia medications (N=69); those who started before their new patient visit (NPV) and persisted (N=425); those who started before the NPV and discontinued medication(s) at least once (N=115); those who started after the NPV and persisted (N=369): and those who started after the NPV and discontinued at least once (N=95).

Results RESULTS: Of the 1004 patients who were ever treated, 54% started treatment prior to the NPV and 46% started treatment after the NPV. There were 794 persistent users (79%) and 210 (21%) were impersistent. The groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, education, estimated pre-morbid IQ, pre-progression rate, physician's estimate of duration, but baseline Mini-mental status examination scores were slightly higher in persistent users (1.13 +/- 6.51, p=0.03).

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: Overall, persistence with anti-dementia drug treatment was high. There were no demonstrated demographic or disease characteristics that explained differences in persistence. This suggests that social factors and/or perceived side effects may have accounted for impersistence.

Authors/Disclosures
Julia Biernot, MD PRESENTER	Dr. Biernot has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Valory Pavlik, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine)	The institution of Dr. Pavlik has received research support from Alzheimer's Association.
Rachelle S. Doody, MD, PhD	Dr. Doody has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of F. Hoffman-LaRoche. Dr. Doody has stock in F. Hoffman-LaRoche.
Timothy K. Vartanian, MD, PhD (Weill Cornell Medical College)	Dr. Vartanian has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Vartanian has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech. Dr. Vartanian has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Novartis. Dr. Vartanian has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Tisch MS Center. Dr. Vartanian has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen.

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