Prescribing Patterns in Dementia Treatment by CAM Physicians
Author Information
Author(s): Jeschke Elke, Ostermann Thomas, Vollmar Horst C, Tabali Manuela, Schad Friedemann, Matthes Harald
Primary Institution: Havelhoehe Research Institute
Hypothesis
This study aims to investigate dementia treatment strategies among physicians specialised in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by analysing prescribing patterns and comparing them to current treatment guidelines in Germany.
Conclusion
The prescribing frequency for anti-dementia drugs is equivalent to those found in other German studies, while the administration of Ginkgo biloba is significantly higher.
Supporting Evidence
- 25.6% of patients with dementia were prescribed anti-dementia drugs.
- Ginkgo biloba was the most frequently prescribed anti-dementia drug overall (67.6%).
- Patients with Alzheimer's disease had a higher likelihood of receiving anti-dementia drugs.
- Neurologists were more likely to prescribe anti-dementia drugs compared to general practitioners.
- Co-morbidities such as hypertension and heart failure increased the odds of receiving anti-dementia drugs.
Takeaway
Doctors who use alternative medicine often prescribe Ginkgo biloba for dementia, even though it's not recommended in official guidelines.
Methodology
A multicentre observational study involving 22 primary care physicians who reported prescriptions and diagnoses for patients with dementia over a 5-year period.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification bias due to lack of objective evaluations and small sample size of participating CAM physicians.
Limitations
The study lacks objective tests for dementia, which increases the possibility of misclassification bias regarding dementia type and severity.
Participant Demographics
Median age of patients was 81 years, with 69% being female.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
CI: 1.59-3.47
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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