Dementia associates with undermedication of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare medication use in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease with and without dementia.


METHODS
All inhabitants aged 75 and older in Lieto, Finland (n = 462, participation rate 82%).


METHODS
Direct standardised assessments of dementia and cardiovascular diseases. Quantification of drug use by self-report and by prescription and drug container checks.


RESULTS
In multivariate analyses, the odds ratio for demented cardiovascular patients receiving any cardiovascular medication (use vs. non-use) was 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.12-0.82). Compared to the non-demented, demented stroke patients were treated less often with antithrombotic agents (p = 0.041) and demented hypertensive patients less often with beta-blockers (p = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
Demented cardiovascular patients, even mildly to moderately demented, were prescribed fewer evidence-based cardiovascular medications than non-demented patients.
Lopponen
Minna
M
Department of Family Medicine, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, Turku, Finland. minna.lopponen@utu.fi
Raiha
Ismo
I
Isoaho
Raimo
R
Vahlberg
Tero
T
Puolijoki
Hannu
H
Kivela
Sirkka-Liisa
SL
D000368:Aged; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011153:Population; D018570:Risk Assessment
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents