Archives of Psychiatric Nursing
Volume 20, Issue 5 , Pages 217-225, October 2006

Outcomes of Antipsychotic Drug Use in Community-Dwelling Elders With Dementia

  • Ann Kolanowski

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Ann Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, 201 Health and Human Development Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-3506.
    • ,
  • Donna Fick

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
    • ,
  • Jennifer L. Waller

      Affiliations

    • Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA
    • ,
  • Frank Ahern

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

This study used administrative data from a large health care insurer in the southeast United States to describe the utilization pattern and health care outcomes of antipsychotic drug use in community-dwelling elders with dementia. Claims data from 959 unique cases were analyzed to address research aims. Overall, 27% of the sample was dispensed antipsychotic drugs, with the most prevalent type being atypical antipsychotic drugs. Individuals on any type of antipsychotic drug experienced more delirium, depression, hip fracture, falls, and syncope than those not on these drugs, even after controlling for age, sex, comorbidity, and number of other drugs prescribed. Implications for practice are discussed.

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 This study was supported by a grant from the Children, Youth, and Family Studies Center, Penn State University and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia.

PII: S0883-9417(06)00090-2

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2006.04.004

Archives of Psychiatric Nursing
Volume 20, Issue 5 , Pages 217-225, October 2006

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