Prescribing patterns in people living with dementia in the community: A cross-sectional study

To identify the prevalence of and factors associated with medication use in people living with dementia in the community.

A cross-sectional study using baseline data from a randomised controlled trial known as the Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-HARP) between 2018 and 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Participants included people with mild-moderate dementia and their carers. Medication use was classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes, while potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) were defined using 2019 Beer's Criteria and 2024 Australian list. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with use of medication classes.

A total of 130 people with dementia and their carers were included. Of the people with dementia, 35% were using antidementia medication, 48% psychotropics, 76% PIMs and 65% polypharmacy (≥5 medications). Polypharmacy was associated with the use of psychotropics (adjusted OR [aOR]: 5.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.94-13.39) and PIMs (aOR: 17.38, 95% CI: 5.12-59.02). Higher education level was associated with lower odds of psychotropic use (aOR: .33, 95% CI: .15-.76), and age over 80 years was associated with lower odds of antidementia medication use (aOR: .29; 95% CI: .12-.72).

The use of PIMs, psychotropics and polypharmacy were common in this sample of people with dementia living in the community. Associations were seen between participant characteristics and medication use. Future research should focus on reviewing PIMs and polypharmacy in people with dementia living in the community to assess the impact on health outcomes.