Cholinesterase inhibitor use in Alzheimer's disease: The EPIFARM-Elderly Project

Carlotta Franchi, Ugo Lucca, Mauro Tettamanti, Emma Riva, Ida Fortino, Angela Bortolotti, Luca Merlino, Luca Pasina, Alessandro Nobili

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the prevalence of cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) use and the proportions of patients treated with ChEIs by using an administrative prescription database of prevalent and incident cases of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in relation to age and duration of therapy. Methods: A prospective observational study covering individuals aged 65years or older who received at least one prescription of ChEIs between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2007 was conducted in three health administrative areas in the Lombardy Region, Italy. Results: The prevalence of those who received at least one prescription for ChEIs rose from 0.5% in 2002 to 0.7% in 2004, reaching a plateau. Among estimated prevalent cases of mild to moderate AD, the prevalence of patients who received at least one prescription of ChEIs varied in different age groups, rising in those over 80years and falling slightly in those under 80years, particularly in patients aged 65-69years (test for trend, p

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)497-505
Number of pages9
JournalPharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
Volume20
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Cholinesterase inhibitors
  • Drug utilization study

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology (medical)
  • Epidemiology

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