Frequent use of opioids in patients with dementia and nursing home residents: A study of the entire elderly population of Denmark. Issue 6 (17th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen-Dahm, Christina; Gasse, Christiane; Astrup, Aske; Mortensen, Preben Bo; Waldemar, Gunhild
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 11:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 691
• Page End: 699
• Publication Date: 2014-09-17
• Subjects: Dementia -- Opioids -- Elderly -- Buprenorphine -- Fentanyl -- Pain; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.06.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Pain is believed to be undertreated in patients with dementia; however, no larger studies have been conducted. The aim was to investigate prevalent use of opioids in elderly with and without dementia in the entire elderly population of Denmark. Method: A register‐based cross‐sectional study in the entire elderly (≥65 years) population in 2010 was conducted. Opioid use among elderly with dementia (N = 35, 455) was compared with elderly without (N = 870, 645), taking age, sex, comorbidity, and living status into account. Results: Nursing home residents (NHRs) used opioids most frequently (41%), followed by home‐living patients with dementia (27.5%) and home‐living patients without dementia (16.9%). Buprenorphine and fentanyl (primarily patches) were commonly used among NHRs (18.7%) and home‐living patients with dementia (10.7%) but less often by home‐living patients without dementia (2.4%). Conclusions: Opioid use in the elderly Danish population was frequent but particularly in patients with dementia and NHR, which may challenge patient safety and needs further investigation.