Table 1.
Sample description of individuals with use of an antidementia drug, or a diagnosis of AD, non-AD dementia, or dementia-related symptoms (2008–2016)
| N | 721,878 |
|---|---|
| Patient Characteristics | |
| Female (N, %) | 477,641 (66.2%) |
| Age at index date (mean, SD) | 80.40 (7.77) |
| White (N, %) | 600,358 (83.2%) |
| Black (N, %) | 57,412 (8.0%) |
| Hispanic (N, %) | 44,082(6.1%) |
| Asian (N, %) | 20,026 (2.8%) |
| Dual eligible (N, %) | 225,783 (31.3%) |
| Low income subsidy (N, %) | 35,593 (4.9%) |
| Physician visits in year of index date (mean, SD) | 10.09 (8.95) |
| HCC (mean, SD) | 1.90(1.47) |
| Ever saw a specialist (N, %) | 255,213 (36.5%) |
| Dementia-related diagnoses (N, %) | |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 197,561 (27.4%) |
| Non-AD dementia | 514,633 (71.3%) |
| Dementia-related symptoms | 420,987 (58.3%) |
| Used antidementia drug without diagnosis | 11,558 (1.6%) |
| Antidementia drug use (N, %) | |
| Any AChEI | 208,731 (28.9%) |
| Any AChEI & Memantine | 70,880 (9.8%) |
| Donepezil | 187,076 (25.9%) |
| Galantamine | 6,059 (0.8%) |
| Memantine | 99,556 (13.8%) |
| Rivastigmine | 42,484 (5.9%) |
| Comorbidities, ever diagnosed (N, %) | |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 341,695 (47.3%) |
| Asthma | 166,987 (23.1%) |
| Chronic kidney disease | 407,612 (56.5%) |
| Hypertension | 686,880 (95.2%) |
| Heart failure | 422,864 (58.6%) |
| Glaucoma | 229,025 (31.7%) |
| Acute myocardial infarction | 90,192(12.5%) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 246,688 (34.2%) |
| Ischemic heart disease | 535,606 (74.2%) |
2008–2016 Medicare claims data (20% sample) for individuals aged 67+, with 3 consecutive years of enrollment in fee-for-service and Part D. Drug use defined as at least 7 days and 1 claim for any of the 4 AD drugs [3 AChEIs (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine) and memantine]. Index date is first diagnosis, or first antidementia drug use. AD, Alzheimer’s disease; AChEI, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; ADRD, AD and related dementias; HCC, hierarchical condition category; dx, diagnosis. Dementia-related symptoms are amnesia, aphasia, other symbolic dysfunctions, apraxia, agnosia, and mild cognitive impairment.