Neha Vohra1, Muhammad Abdul Hadi1, Saval Khanal2, Om P Kurmi3, Vibhu Paudyal1. 1. Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom. 2. Behavioral Science Group, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom. 3. Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, United Kingdom.
Abstract
AIM: This study aimed to examine trends in prescribing of anti-dementia drugs in primary care in England between 2009-2019 and investigate the impact of deprivation, regional demography and disease prevalence on prescribing practices. METHODS: Analysis of publicly available government data from various sources pertaining to primary care prescribing and demographics was conducted. All primary care prescription data pertaining to anti-dementia drugs in England between 2009-2019 were extracted and adjusted for inflation and populations changes. Data across English Clinical Commissioning regions were compared to explore the association between prescribing trend, deprivation, regional demography and dementia prevalence. RESULTS: The number of prescription items for anti-dementia drugs in England increased by approximately three-folds (195.4%) from 24 items/1,000 populations in 2009 to 70.9 items/1,000 populations in 2019. In 2019, the least deprived areas had approximately twice the rate of prescribing of anti-dementia drugs compared to the most deprived areas [median (IQR) values of 46.7 (36.6-64.8) vs 91.23 (76.2-95.1) items/1,000 populations respectively]. In the multivariable analysis, the number of prescription items showed an inverse relationship with deprivation [Coeff -0.046 95%CI:-0.47 to -0.045] after adjustment of populations 65+ years and prevalence of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: The three-fold rise in the number of prescription items for anti-dementia drugs in the study period reflects the policy emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Higher rates of prescribing in the least deprived areas may be reflective of better and early diagnoses and access to treatments. Such inequality in access to the treatments needs to be investigated further. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
AIM: This study aimed to examine trends in prescribing of anti-dementia drugs in primary care in England between 2009-2019 and investigate the impact of deprivation, regional demography and disease prevalence on prescribing practices. METHODS: Analysis of publicly available government data from various sources pertaining to primary care prescribing and demographics was conducted. All primary care prescription data pertaining to anti-dementia drugs in England between 2009-2019 were extracted and adjusted for inflation and populations changes. Data across English Clinical Commissioning regions were compared to explore the association between prescribing trend, deprivation, regional demography and dementia prevalence. RESULTS: The number of prescription items for anti-dementia drugs in England increased by approximately three-folds (195.4%) from 24 items/1,000 populations in 2009 to 70.9 items/1,000 populations in 2019. In 2019, the least deprived areas had approximately twice the rate of prescribing of anti-dementia drugs compared to the most deprived areas [median (IQR) values of 46.7 (36.6-64.8) vs 91.23 (76.2-95.1) items/1,000 populations respectively]. In the multivariable analysis, the number of prescription items showed an inverse relationship with deprivation [Coeff -0.046 95%CI:-0.47 to -0.045] after adjustment of populations 65+ years and prevalence of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: The three-fold rise in the number of prescription items for anti-dementia drugs in the study period reflects the policy emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Higher rates of prescribing in the least deprived areas may be reflective of better and early diagnoses and access to treatments. Such inequality in access to the treatments needs to be investigated further. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.