Diagnoses and Treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Persons Living with Dementia.
Black and Asian dementia patients less likely diagnosed with behavioral/psychological symptoms than white patients
Diagnoses and Treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Persons Living with Dementia.
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia) and prescribed central nervous system (central nervous system) active drugs to treat them are prevalent among persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (PLWD) and lead to negative outcomes for PLWD and their caregivers.
Quantify racial/ethnic disparities in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia diagnoses and central nervous system-active drug use among community-dwelling PLWD.
We used a retrospective cohort of community-dwelling Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries with dementia, continuously enrolled in Parts A, B and D, 2017-2019.
Black patients with dementia were far less likely to be diagnosed with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia than white patients
Among PLWD, 67.1% had diagnoses of an affective, psychosis or hyperactivity symptom.
Among PLWD with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia diagnoses, 78.6% took a central nervous system-active drug.
Use was highest among whites (79.3%) and Hispanics (76.2%) and lowest among Blacks (70.8%) and Asians (69.3%).
Racial/ethnic differences in affective disorders were pronounced, 56.8% of white PLWD diagnosed; Asians had the lowest rates (37.8%).
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia diagnoses and central nervous system-active drug use were common in our study.
Lower rates of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia diagnoses in non-white compared to white populations may indicate underdiagnosis in clinical settings of treatable conditions.
Clinicians' review of prescriptions in this population to reduce poor outcomes is important as is informing care partners on the risks/benefits of using central nervous system-active drugs.