title: Estimated prevalence of dementia based on analysis of drug databases in the Region of Madrid (Spain).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The progressive rise in dementia prevalence increases the need for rapid methods that complement population-based prevalence studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 and older based on use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of use and prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine in 2011 according to 2 databases: Farm@drid (pharmacy billing records for the Region of Madrid) and BIFAP (database for pharmacoepidemiology research in primary care, with diagnosis and prescription records). We tested the comparability of drug use results from each database using the chi-square test and prevalence ratios. The prevalence of dementia in Madrid was estimated based on the dose per 100 inhabitants/day, adjusting the result for data obtained from BIFAP on combination treatment in the general population (0.37%) and the percentage of dementia patients undergoing treatment (41.13%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were taken by 2.08% and 0.72% of Madrid residents aged 65 and older was respectively. Both databases displayed similar results for use of these drugs. The estimated prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 65 and older is 5.91% (95% CI%, 5.85-5.95) (52 287 people), and it is higher in women (7.16%) than in men (4.00%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The estimated prevalence of dementia is similar to that found in population-based studies. Analysing consumption of specific dementia drugs can be a reliable and inexpensive means of updating prevalence data periodically and helping rationalise healthcare resources.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Pedro Laín Entralgo, DA Oeste, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mcanto.hoyos@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Hoyos-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Proyecto BIFAP, División de Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Agencia Española del Medicamento y Productos Sanitarios, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonis
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Comillas, DA Centro, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tapias-Merino
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Dr. Castroviejo, DA Norte, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, España; IdiPAZ, Instituto de Investigación La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Castell
authors.affiliation: IdiPAZ, Instituto de Investigación La Paz, Madrid, España; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D062313:Databases, Pharmaceutical; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D008559:Memantine
keywords: Anticolinesterásicos; Cholinesterase inhibitors; Demencia; Dementia; Drug utilisation; Farmacoepidemiología; Memantina; Memantine; Pharmacoepidemiology; Prevalence; Prevalencia; Uso de fármacos