Dementia medications and the use of psychotropic drugs: A cross-sectional study in Saudi healthcare

Abstract

Background

The management of dementia remains a critical area of healthcare. The pharmacological management of dementia in Saudi Arabia remains underexplored.

Objective

This study aimed to obtain a comprehensive overview of current prescribing patterns in the pharmacological management of dementia among older adult patients in Saudi Arabia, with the goal of identifying potential areas for improvement.

Methods

This cross-sectional study is a descriptive analysis of the prescription data of patients with dementia from the National Guard Health System across Saudi Arabia. Dementia patients were included based on either ICD-10 codes or the prescription of antidementia medications. Patients’ records were scanned for the use of antidementia and psychotropic agents. Data were collected from medical records and pharmacy databases between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to report medication prevalence and distribution patterns. Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were conducted to examine associations across facility types and demographic subgroups.

Results

This study included 5656 patients. The analysis revealed memantine (62.4%) and rivastigmine (37.6%) as the most commonly prescribed medications, with a notable increase in prescriptions among older adults and a higher prevalence in married patients. Single dementia medication (99.5%) was more prevalent than combined dementia medications (0.5%). Among psychotropic medications, quetiapine, lorazepam, and citalopram were the most frequently used, with quetiapine leading in prescription numbers (27%).

Conclusions

This study provides insights into current prescribing patterns for dementia in Saudi Arabia. Future research should address limitations in coding information and long-term outcomes to improve the management of dementia.