title: The use of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in nursing home residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although a high proportion of elderly nursing home residents suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD), data from the literature indicate that they are only rarely treated with Acetyl Cholinesterase Inhibitors (ChEls) or memantine. The aim of this study was to describe the use of ChEls or memantine by elderly residents in nursing homes, suffering from AD and to document who might qualify for pharmacological treatment according to the Belgian reimbursement rules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive data was collected from 11 nursing homes through a standardized questionnaire consisting of a general section for nurses and a specific medical section for general practitioners (GP). All residents (N = 1032) from these institutions were eligible for inclusion in the study; 718 (69.6%) questionnaires were completed by the nurses of which 533 (51.6%) were also completed by the GP's.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AD was diagnosed in 29.4% (n = 211) of the residents of whom 56.4% (n = 119) did not receive an anti-AD treatment, although nearly all of these patients fulfilled the Belgian requirements for reimbursement of ChEls or memantine. The mental status of the residents was often incompletely documented, but it can be estimated that at least an additional 30.1% (n = 216) of all screened residents might possibly qualify for reimbursement of ChEls or memantine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Less than half of the AD patients in nursing homes receive ChEls or memantine and approximately one third of the residents could possibly qualify for reimbursement. Many residents with cognitive deficits remain undetected and undiagnosed and consequently do not receive appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Frailty in Ageing Research, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Puyvelde
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corremans
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mets
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D008559:Memantine