Prescription Patterns Before and After Dementia Diagnosis in Primary Care

Abstract: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients aged 65+ to evaluate medication prescription patterns following a dementia diagnosis. We matched dementia cases with controls by age, sex, and year and collected data on demographics, medical history, and prescriptions. We used paired t-tests and multivariable regression to analyze medication changes and predictors. Both the dementia and control groups showed increased medication use postdiagnosis. The dementia group had a 13% increase in total medications, with notable rises in psychotropic and antidiabetic drugs. The control group had a 17% increase in total medications, with significant increases in psychotropic and antihypertensive drugs. Age and male sex predicted medication changes. Healthcare professionals should monitor prescribing patterns and optimize medication management in older adults, regardless of dementia status.