Hyungjin Myra Kim1,2, Claire Chiang3, Daniel Weintraub4, Lon S Schneider5, Helen Kales2,3. 1. Center for Statistical Consultation and Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 2. Center for Clinical Management Research, Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prescribing practice patterns and factors associated with treatment changes in older patients initiating antipsychotic treatment for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia is not well known. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to study 90-day prescribing practice patterns across the three most commonly prescribed antipsychotics. METHODS: This is a retrospective study using national data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The study included patients older than 65 years diagnosed with dementia who began outpatient treatment with an antipsychotic medication between 2005 and 2008. Patients were followed for 90 days from their antipsychotic start. The primary event of interest was changing to another psychotropic medication. Cumulative incidence of treatment change was determined with antipsychotic discontinuation and death as competing risks. Covariate-adjusted hazard ratios for treatment change were determined using competing risk regression models. RESULTS: During the study period, 15,435 patients initiated an atypical antipsychotic; 14,791 started olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone. Over half (55%) of the patients discontinued index treatment within 90 days, 36% continued, 3% died while on index treatment, and 6% changed to another psychotropic medication. Compared with quetiapine, the adjusted hazard of treatment change was higher by 43% (p = 0.005) for olanzapine and by 12% (p = 0.08) for risperidone. CONCLUSION: The higher hazard of treatment change with olanzapine suggests patients either responded worse to or experienced more adverse events with olanzapine compared with quetiapine.
BACKGROUND: Prescribing practice patterns and factors associated with treatment changes in older patients initiating antipsychotic treatment for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia is not well known. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to study 90-day prescribing practice patterns across the three most commonly prescribed antipsychotics. METHODS: This is a retrospective study using national data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The study included patients older than 65 years diagnosed with dementia who began outpatient treatment with an antipsychotic medication between 2005 and 2008. Patients were followed for 90 days from their antipsychotic start. The primary event of interest was changing to another psychotropic medication. Cumulative incidence of treatment change was determined with antipsychotic discontinuation and death as competing risks. Covariate-adjusted hazard ratios for treatment change were determined using competing risk regression models. RESULTS: During the study period, 15,435 patients initiated an atypical antipsychotic; 14,791 started olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone. Over half (55%) of the patients discontinued index treatment within 90 days, 36% continued, 3% died while on index treatment, and 6% changed to another psychotropic medication. Compared with quetiapine, the adjusted hazard of treatment change was higher by 43% (p = 0.005) for olanzapine and by 12% (p = 0.08) for risperidone. CONCLUSION: The higher hazard of treatment change with olanzapine suggests patients either responded worse to or experienced more adverse events with olanzapine compared with quetiapine.
Authors: Clive Ballard; Marisa Margallo-Lana; Edmund Juszczak; Simon Douglas; Alan Swann; Alan Thomas; John O'Brien; Anna Everratt; Stuart Sadler; Clare Maddison; Lesley Lee; Carol Bannister; Ruth Elvish; Robin Jacoby Journal: BMJ Date: 2005-02-18
Authors: D P Devanand; Jacobo Mintzer; Susan K Schultz; Howard F Andrews; David L Sultzer; Danilo de la Pena; Sanjay Gupta; Sylvia Colon; Corbett Schimming; Gregory H Pelton; Bruce Levin Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2012-10-18 Impact factor: 91.245