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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Article info
Footnotes
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.
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Copyright
© 2006 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
