Objective: To compare medication use in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease with and without dementia.
Subjects: All inhabitants aged 75 and older in Lieto, Finland (n = 462, participation rate 82%).
Measurements: Direct standardised assessments of dementia and cardiovascular diseases. Quantification of drug use by self-report and by prescription and drug container checks.
Results: In multivariate analyses, the odds ratio for demented cardiovascular patients receiving any cardiovascular medication (use vs. non-use) was 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.12-0.82). Compared to the non-demented, demented stroke patients were treated less often with antithrombotic agents (p = 0.041) and demented hypertensive patients less often with beta-blockers (p = 0.045).
Conclusion: Demented cardiovascular patients, even mildly to moderately demented, were prescribed fewer evidence-based cardiovascular medications than non-demented patients.
Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.