Impact of socio-economic and patient-centered characteristics on access to Alzheimer's disease medication in primary care: A population-based study in the Stockholm county, Sweden

BackgroundDespite treatment guidelines for Alzheimer's disease (AD), access to AD medications varies significantly within the same health care setting.ObjectivePredictors influencing access to AD medication were assessed in a retrospective cohort study comprising most individuals diagnosed with AD in Stockholm 2013-2021.Methods14,884 individuals were included, with an incident AD diagnosis between 2013-2021 in Stockholm, Sweden. The primary outcome was the dispensation of AD-specific drugs (cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine) within 90 days before to 180 days after AD diagnosis. We used a generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM). Variables included patient-centered characteristics such as age and comorbidities, and characteristics of the primary care centers (PCC) where the individuals were listed, including Care Need Index (CNI).ResultsOverall, 77% of diagnosed patients were dispensed AD medications. Individuals listed at PCCs with high CNI score, indicative of lower socio-economic resources of the area, were less likely to receive a dispensation of any AD medication compared with low CNI score (76.2% versus 84.8%; OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.86). The association between CNI score and likelihood of receiving AD medication was attenuated in subgroup analysis of individuals living in nursing homes. Also associated with lower likelihood of receiving AD medications were age ≥85 years (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.21-0.28), nursing home residency (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.34-0.41), and comorbidity (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57-0.70).ConclusionsSocio-economic factors strongly influenced the likelihood of receiving AD medication, in addition to more established factors such as age and comorbidities. Interventions are needed to eliminate barriers to equal drug treatment in AD, particularly those related to socio-economic disadvantages.