Pharmaceutical Treatment of People with Dementia during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Germany: Polypharmacy, Anticholinergic Medication, and Antidementia Medication
Despite known risks and adverse effects, polypharmacy as well as the use of anticholinergic and antidementia medication were common among individuals with dementia. Compared to pre-pandemic studies, levels of polypharmacy and anticholinergic medication but not of antidementia medication appeared slightly elevated in people with dementia. Because of the associated risks, polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication require regular review (and when possible reduction) in people with dementia. In crisis situations like a pandemic, an outreach approach might be necessary for this patient group.
Authors
- Christian Janke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9262-1597)
- Caroline Floto
- Anita Hausen
- Tobias Dreischulte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2345-5377)
- Michael Höelscher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7642-1835)
- Maria Sebastião (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-7989)
- Armin Nassehi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3651-0278)
- Ildikó Gágyor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7974-7603)
- Daniel Teupser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9843-0145)
- Jennifer Scheel-Barteit
- Jochen Gensichen
- Thomas Kühlein
- Henrike Höpfner
Institutions
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- University of Würzburg (DE)
- Helmholtz Zentrum München (DE)
- LMU Klinikum (DE)
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen (DE)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (DE)
- Katholische Stiftungshochschule München (DE)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
- Published
- 2025-06-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000546708
- Primary Topic
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00