Trends in Drug Prescription Rates for Dementia: An Observational Population-Based Study in France, 2006-2014.

Background: Since the 2011 French guidance updates, cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are considered optional in the management of dementia and leave physicians free to prescribe based on their clinical expertise.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the influence of these recent guidance updates on the prescription rates of these drugs and to quantify the impact of potential changes on healthcare expenditures.

Methods: Patients over 65 years old from a representative sample of a national administrative claims database, the French national health insurance database, were retrospectively included from 2006 to 2014. Trends of annual prescription rates were tested using adjusted segmented regression analysis. Drug costs with and without prescribers' behavioral changes were estimated.

Results: A total of 119,731 individuals were included and followed during the study period. Among them, 5514 individuals were treated for dementia. According to the unadjusted segmented regression model, there was a significant increase in prescription rates between 2006 and 2010, from 2.23% (95% confidence interval 2.13-2.34) to 2.73% (95% confidence interval 2.62-2.84) of the study population. Since 2011, the trend has reversed with a significant decrease until 2014, from 2.64% (95% confidence interval 2.54-2.75) to 1.92% (95% confidence interval 1.84-2.01). In the multivariate analysis, we also found a gradual decline since 2011, particularly for patients aged 65-69 years and with one or more other chronic diseases. Cost savings associated with prescribers' behavioral changes were estimated at €108 million.

Conclusion: Drugs prescribed for dementia are on a declining trend with important cost savings, and this was concomitant with guidance updates that left physicians to rely on their clinical expertise while managing dementia.