Reetta Kettunen1, Heidi Taipale2,3,4, Anna-Maija Tolppanen1,5, Antti Tanskanen6,7,8, Jari Tiihonen6,7, Sirpa Hartikainen1,9, Marjaana Koponen1,9. 1. School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. 2. School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. heidi.taipale@uef.fi. 3. Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. heidi.taipale@uef.fi. 4. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 5th floor, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. heidi.taipale@uef.fi. 5. Research Centre for Comparative Effectiveness and Patient Safety (RECEPS), University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. 6. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 5th floor, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 8. Public Health Evaluation and Projection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland. 9. Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study how long antidepressants initiated after diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were used and factors associated with discontinuation of use among persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, differences in duration of use between the antidepressants groups were compared. METHODS: Register-based Medication use and Alzheimer's disease (MEDALZ) cohort included 70,718 community-dwelling people with AD who were diagnosed during the years 2005-2011. For this study, the new antidepressant users were included after 1-year washout period (N = 16,501; 68.6% females, mean age 80.9). The duration of antidepressant use was modeled with the PRE2DUP method. Factors associated with treatment discontinuation were assessed with Cox proportional hazard models and included age, gender, comorbid conditions and concomitant medications. RESULTS: Median duration of the new antidepressant use period was 309 days (IQR 93-830). For selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use, the median duration was 331 days (IQR 101-829), for mirtazapine 202 days (IQR 52-635), and for serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 134 days (IQR 37-522). After 1-year follow-up, 40.8% had discontinued antidepressant use, 54.6% after 2 years and 64.1% after 3 years. Factors associated with treatment discontinuation were age over 85, male gender, diabetes, and use of memantine, opioids, and antiepileptics whereas benzodiazepines and related drugs and antipsychotic use were inversely associated with discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressants are used for long-term among people with AD. Need and indication for antidepressant use should be assessed regularly as evidence on their efficacy for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia is limited.
PURPOSE: To study how long antidepressants initiated after diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were used and factors associated with discontinuation of use among persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, differences in duration of use between the antidepressants groups were compared. METHODS: Register-based Medication use and Alzheimer's disease (MEDALZ) cohort included 70,718 community-dwelling people with AD who were diagnosed during the years 2005-2011. For this study, the new antidepressant users were included after 1-year washout period (N = 16,501; 68.6% females, mean age 80.9). The duration of antidepressant use was modeled with the PRE2DUP method. Factors associated with treatment discontinuation were assessed with Cox proportional hazard models and included age, gender, comorbid conditions and concomitant medications. RESULTS: Median duration of the new antidepressant use period was 309 days (IQR 93-830). For selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use, the median duration was 331 days (IQR 101-829), for mirtazapine 202 days (IQR 52-635), and for serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 134 days (IQR 37-522). After 1-year follow-up, 40.8% had discontinued antidepressant use, 54.6% after 2 years and 64.1% after 3 years. Factors associated with treatment discontinuation were age over 85, male gender, diabetes, and use of memantine, opioids, and antiepileptics whereas benzodiazepines and related drugs and antipsychotic use were inversely associated with discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressants are used for long-term among people with AD. Need and indication for antidepressant use should be assessed regularly as evidence on their efficacy for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia is limited.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease; Antidepressants; Dementia; Discontinuation; Drug utilization; Persistence
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