Dementia diagnosis and prescription of antidementia drugs: An analysis of German claims data (2006–2016)

BackgroundUse of claims data allows to analyze health service characteristics of dementia, which is one of the most frequent cognitive disorders in Germany and worldwide.ObjectiveThe study aimed at describing the variability in dementia diagnoses and in antidementia drug prescription pattern.MethodsWe analyzed data from a population-based sample of one of the largest German statutory health insurances. The cohort included 30,403 patients with incident dementia diagnosis from 2006-2016. We described frequencies, patterns, and interrelations of diagnoses (Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia, other specific dementia, unspecified dementia (UD), antidementia drugs (ADD), and professional groups. We described switches in diagnostic and medication patterns between index quarter and following quarters, and evaluated the prescriptions in relation to national guidelines.ResultsA total of 87% of patients received a diagnosis of UD in at least one quarter of insurance. In the quarter of incident diagnosis, 14% of patients received more than one diagnostic code of dementia, whereas over the course of observation, the majority of patients received more than one diagnostic code (61%). Most patients were diagnosed by a general practitioner without involving a specialist. All professional groups primarily made UD diagnoses except specialists who mainly diagnosed AD. Thirty-five percent of all patients and 67% of AD patients were prescribed an ADD at least once.ConclusionsSpecialists made the most specific diagnoses and prescribed most ADDs. A specialist consultation may be advisable, but only 34% of patients visited one. Many AD patients might be left untreated due to underdiagnosis or -treatment.