Inappropriate Drug Use among Community-Dwelling Elders with Dementia 

 
   Lead Investigator:    Denys Lau
   Institution      :    University of Illinois at Chicago
   E-Mail           :    DTLau@UIC.edu
   Proposal ID      :    34


   Publications:


1  Mercaldo N , Harris AT, Weintraub S, Lau DT
   Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Patients With Dementia In US Alzheimer's Disease Centers
   2008   Abstract  136th Annual Conference, Gerontological Health Section , 

   ACCEPTED



2  Lau DT,  Mercaldo ND , Harris AT, Trittschuh E, Shega J and Weintraub S
   Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use among community-dwelling elders with dementia
   Journal Article  Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord,24:56-63,2010,PMC2837122

   PUBLISHED



3  Lau DT,  Mercaldo ND , Rademakers R, Shega J, Weintraub S
   Cognitive, functional, and behavioral decline associated with polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in community-dwelling elders with and without dementia
   2009   Abstract  American Public Health Association, 137th Annual Conference  Philadelphia, PA , 

   ACCEPTED



4  Lau DT,  Mercaldo ND , Shega JW, Rademaker A, Weintraub S
   Functional decline associated with polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in community-dwelling older adults with dementia
   Journal Article  Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen,26:606-615,2011,PMC3298080

   PUBLISHED



5  Weintraub S,  Mercaldo N , Harris A, Lau D
   Polypharmacy among Community-Dwelling Elderly Patients with Dementia: Analysis of the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set
   Abstract  Alzheimers Dement,4:T454,2008,

   PUBLISHED





   Proposal Description:
   Medication use in patients with dementia can be challenging.  Drug therapies should be individualized based on the patient's needs, as well as cognitive, behavioral, and functional decline.  Common drug treatments include AChEase inhibitors, neuroleptics, antipsychotics, antidepressant, analgesic drugs, donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine, and N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist memantine.  Among older patients with dementia, their drug regimens may be even more complex because of co-existing chronic diseases.  The risks for improper medication use and adverse drug events are significant in elderly patients with dementia. This study aims to 1) determine the appropriateness of drug use among elderly patients with dementia based on the 2003 Beers criteria, and 2) examine patient-related risk factors associated with the exposure to Beers drugs.  Probably the most cited drugs that should be avoided among all older adults, the Beers criteria have been used in population studies however, no U.S. studies have examined the use of Beers drugs among elderly patients with dementia living at home.  This study will provide the basis for a future grant proposal to examine how medication use can be improved in this population.    This study will (1) determine the prevalence of inappropriate medication use according to the 2002  Beers criteria in elderly patients with dementia, and (2) examine the association between potentially  inappropriate medication use (the Beers drugs) and the patient-related characteristics (socio-demographic  characteristics, health status, and family living situations) among elderly patients with dementia.