title: Persistent use of analgesic medications in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have reported a lower use of analgesics in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) than in non-AD elderly. To date, no study has focused on persistent analgesic use in patients with mild-to-moderate AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The "Réseau sur la maladie d'Alzheimer Français" (REAL.FR) cohort study enrolled community-dwelling patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Persistent analgesic use was defined as the consumption of at least one analgesic drug during two consecutive visits (6 months). Associated factors were identified in a nested case-control study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In REAL.FR, 595 patients were present during at least two consecutive visits [mean age = 77.5 ± 6.8 years, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) = 20.1 ± 4.2]. Prevalence of persistent analgesic use was 13.1 % (95 % CI = 10.4-15.9). The incidence of persistent analgesic use was 5.9/100 patient-years (95 % CI = 5.2-6.6). Women (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, 95 % CI = 1.2-8.1), patients with musculoskeletal disorders (OR = 3.4, 95 % CI = 1.6-7.3) and patients treated with numerous medications (OR = 3.0, 95 % CI = 1.5-5.8) were more likely to use analgesics persistently. Statistically significant associations were found with disease duration and disease progression but not with AD severity at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a low use of analgesics in AD patients, which could vary with AD progression.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, UMR1027, 31062, Toulouse, France. adeline.gallini@univ-tlse3.fr
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallini
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gardette
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vellas
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lapeyre-Mestre
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrieu
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brefel-Courbon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics