Comorbidity profile of dementia patients in primary care: Are they sicker?

Schubert, Cathy C., Boustani, Malaz, Callahan, Christopher M., Perkins, Anthony J., Carney, Caroline P., Fox, Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9480-5704, Unverzagt, Frederick, Hui, Siu and Hendrie, Hugh C. (2006) Comorbidity profile of dementia patients in primary care: Are they sicker? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 54 (1). pp. 104-109. ISSN 1532-5415

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare the medical comorbidity of older patients with and without dementia in primary care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Wishard Health Services, which includes a university-affiliated, urban public hospital and seven community-based primary care practice centers in Indianapolis. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand thirteen patients aged 65 and older attending seven primary care centers in Indianapolis, Indiana. MEASUREMENTS: An expert panel diagnosed dementia using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, criteria. Comorbidity was assessed using 10 physician-diagnosed chronic comorbid conditions and the Chronic Disease Score (CDS). RESULTS: Patients with dementia attending primary care have on average 2.4 chronic conditions and receive 5.1 medications. Approximately 50% of dementia patients in this setting are exposed to at least one anticholinergic medication, and 20% are prescribed at least one psychotropic medication. After adjusting for patients' age, race, and sex, patients with and without dementia have a similar level of comorbidity (mean number of chronic medical conditions, 2.4 vs 2.3, P=.66; average CDS, 5.8 vs 6.2, P=.83). CONCLUSION: Multiple medical comorbid conditions are common in older adults with and without dementia in primary care. Despite their cholinergic deficit, a substantial proportion of patients with dementia are exposed to anticholinergic medications. Models of care that incorporate this medical complexity are needed to improve the treatment of dementia in primary care.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Psychological Sciences (former - to 2018) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Mental Health Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Institute for Volunteering Research
Depositing User:	Users 2731 not found.
Date Deposited:	17 Sep 2012 14:13
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2026 15:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/39571
DOI:	10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.00543.x

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