[The Influence of Caseload on Continuous Treatment with Antidementia Drugs].
ObjectiveThe goal of this study is to investigate the impact of the number of dementia cases in general and specialist practices on the continuity of treatment with antidementia drugs.MethodologyPeriod between 2004 and 2013: 1116 general practices, 200 specialist practices, 37 178 dementia cases; observation period: 36 months. Practice groups with 1 - 9, 10 - 20, 21-s49, and ≥ 50 dementia cases.ResultsThe treatment continuity is higher in practices with an average of 150 dementia cases than in practices with five dementia cases (73.6 % vs. 42.1 %). In addition to the number of cases, treatment continuity is also affected by the specialization, but not by the practice size.ConclusionPractices with more than 50 patients treated with antidementia drugs exhibit greater treatment continuity. Treatment continuity is increased if specialists are involved in the treatment.
BVDN, Praxis Bohlken, Berlin.
Jens
J
Bohlken
Epidemiologie, IMS Health, Frankfurt am Main.
Karel
K
Kostev
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011570:Psychiatry; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013038:Specialization
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs