A longitudinal study on public policy and the health of in-house caregivers in Europe.

Caregiving has negative effects on the health of informal caregivers. The current aging of the population predicts an increase in the number of informal caregivers worldwide. The effect of available public policies that support informal caregivers in their self-perceived health is an understudied topic. We analyzed the differences in the effects of public support policies in 11 European countries using longitudinal data from waves 5 and 6 of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe. In this cohort, 2303 respondents were in-house informal caregivers. Logistic regression models were fitted adjusting for the main determinants of caregiving. Respite care and caregiver allowances emerged as the most effective measures of support for caregivers' health maintenance (relative risk [RR] = 0.2; 95 % CI = 0.1-0.8 and RR = 0.5; 95 % CI = 0.3-0.9). Despite the differences in the welfare systems of Scandinavian and Mediterranean countries, informal caregivers in these countries were less likely than those living in Continental or Eastern countries to have declined health two years later. Our results indicate that public support policies are significantly related to caregivers' subsequent health, but the effects vary by country. Country-specific studies should be performed to take into account the determinants of caregiving linked to the social context of each country.

Caregivers' Sense of Coherence: Implications on Direct and Indirect Costs of Dementia Care.

BACKGROUND: Dementia care is associated with physical, emotional, and monetary impact on the informal carers providing unpaid care. Differences in the personal characteristics of caregivers may help explain the variations in the costs of dementia care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of caregivers' sense of coherence (SOC) on direct and indirect costs in dementia care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in community dwelling caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Data of healthcare services were obtained from clinical registries, and information was collected from caregivers regarding their use of social care resources and time spent caregiving. The transformation of all costs into Euros was made assigning a fixed cost of 10.29 € /h and 16.24 € /h for assisting in instrumental and basic activities of daily living, respectively. Caregivers' SOC was assessed using the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ-13). Adjusted regression models were developed, with different types of costs as dependent variables. RESULTS: A sample of 147 caregivers was recruited. The mean OLQ-13 score was 73.3 points (SD = 11.6). The regression models showed a small association between caregivers' SOC and direct costs, mainly linked to the use of social care resources (r2 = 0.429; ß= -15.6 € /month), and a greater association between SOC and indirect costs (r2 = 0.562; ß= -222.3 € /month). CONCLUSION: Increasing caregivers' SOC could reduce dementia care costs by decreasing the use of social care resources and caregiving time.

The Aging Imageomics Study: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the study population.

Biomarkers of aging are urgently needed to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated disease or disability. Growing evidence from population-based studies points to whole-body magnetic resonance imaging's (MRI) enormous potential for quantifying subclinical disease burden and for assessing changes that occur with aging in all organ systems. The Aging Imageomics Study aims to identify biomarkers of human aging by analyzing imaging, biopsychosocial, cardiovascular, metabolomic, lipidomic, and microbiome variables. This study recruited 1030 participants aged ≥50 years (mean 67, range 50-96 years) that underwent structural and functional MRI to evaluate the brain, large blood vessels, heart, abdominal organs, fat, spine, musculoskeletal system and ultrasonography to assess carotid intima-media thickness and plaques. Patients were notified of incidental findings detected by a certified radiologist when necessary. Extensive data were also collected on anthropometrics, demographics, health history, neuropsychology, employment, income, family status, exposure to air pollution and cardiovascular status. In addition, several types of samples were gathered to allow for microbiome, metabolomic and lipidomic profiling. Using big data techniques to analyze all the data points from biological phenotyping together with health records and lifestyle measures, we aim to cultivate a deeper understanding about various biological factors (and combinations thereof) that underlie healthy and unhealthy aging.

CAUSES, mortality rates and risk factors of death in community-dwelling Europeans aged 50 years and over: Results from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe 2013-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To determine mortality rates and to rank the causes and predictors of mortality using a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a prospective population-based cohort study of adults living in the community, 2013-15 N = 48,691, age ≥50; deceased = 1,944. Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe SHARE: Age, Gender, Marital Status, Years of Schooling, Income, Loneliness, Cognition, Self-Rated Health, Diseases, Activities of daily living ADL, and Frailty. Mortality rates were calculated. A Cox proportional hazards model were used to determine risk-adjusted mortality ratios. RESULTS: The crude mortality rate was 18.39 (1000 person-years at risk), (99 % CI, 18.37-18.42). The factors most associated with an increased mortality risk were older age, lower self-rated health, lower cognition, male gender, ADL deficits, higher comorbidity, frailty and loneliness. The diseases with a higher mortality risk were: cancer (Hazard ratio, HR = 2.67), dementia (HR = 2.19), depressive symptoms (HR = 2.10), fractures (hip, femur) (HR = 1.57), stroke (HR = 1.55), chronic lung disease (HR = 1.52), diabetes (HR = 1.36) and heart attack (HR = 1.21). CONCLUSIONS: The main mortality risk factors, associated independently in the eight diseases were: older age, poor self-rated health, ADL deficits, male gender, lower cognition, comorbidity and the presence of depressive symptoms, with a different influence in the European regions. The need to evaluate and treat the depressive symptoms that accompanies diseases with higher risk of mortality is stressed.

Scale for the Evaluation of Risk of Aggressiveness in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units.

INTRODUCTION: The multifactorial origin of violent behaviors generates the need to use prediction tools adapted to different contexts, patient profiles and types of aggression. The main objective of this work was to design an instrument to detect the risk of violence and aggression quickly and effectively in patients with mental disorder in psychiatric intensive care units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 722 admissions of 629 patients from the psychiatric intensive care units. Violent incidents were recorded using the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). A new scale has been designed and its psychometric properties have been evaluated. RESULTS: The Scale for the Evaluation of Risk of Aggressiveness (ERA) includes static and dynamic risk factors, has an AUC=0.854, a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 73%, a positive predictive value of 62% and a negative predictive value of 88% when the cut-off point of ¾ is used to determine the risk of violent or aggressive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The ERA has proven to be a valid and reliable instrument to forecast the risk of aggressiveness in patients admitted to an acute care unit of psychiatry. It also allows monitoring and updating this risk during the patient's stay in the psychiatric intensive care unit.

Escala para la Evaluación del Riesgo de Agresividad en una Unidad de Agudos de Psiquatría / Scale for the Evaluation of Risk of Aggressiveness in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units

INTRODUCCIÓN: El origen multifactorial de la agresividad y la violencia genera la necesidad de utilizar instrumentos de predicción adaptados a diferentes contextos, perfiles de pacientes y tipos de agresividad. El principal objetivo de este trabajo fue diseñar un instrumento para detectar el riesgo de violencia y agresividad de forma rápida y eficaz en pacientes con trastorno mental en unidades de agudos de psiquiatría. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La muestra consistió en 722 ingresos de 629 pacientes de la Unidad de Agudos. Los incidentes de violencia y agresividad fueron registrados usando la Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). Se ha diseñado una nueva escala y se han evaluado sus propiedades psicométricas. RESULTADOS: La Escala para la Evaluación del Riesgo de Agresividad (ERA) incluye factores de riesgo estáticos y dinámicos, tiene un AUC=0.854, una sensibilidad del 82%, una especificidad del 73%, un valor predictivo positivo del 62% y un valor predictivo negativo de 88% cuando se utiliza el punto de corte ¾ para determinar el riesgo de comportamiento violento o agresivo. CONCLUSIONES: La ERA ha demostrado ser un instrumento válido y fiable, eficaz para predecir el riesgo de agresividad en los pacientes ingresados en una unidad de agudos de psiquiatría. También permite hacer un seguimiento y actualizar este riesgo durante la estancia del paciente en la unidad de agudos

INTRODUCTION: The multifactorial origin of violent behaviors generates the need to use prediction tools adapted to different contexts, patient profiles and types of aggression. The main objective of this work was to design an instrument to detect the risk of violence and aggression quickly and effectively in patients with mental disorder in psychiatric intensive care units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 722 admissions of 629 patients from the psychiatric intensive care units. Violent incidents were recorded using the Overt Ag-gression Scale (OAS). A new scale has been designed and its psychometric properties have been evaluated. RESULTS: The Scale for the Evaluation of Risk of Aggressiveness (ERA) includes static and dynamic risk factors, has an AUC=0.854, a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 73%, a positive predictive value of 62% and a negative predictive value of 88% when the cut-off point of ¾ is used to determine the risk of violent or aggressive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The ERA has proven to be a valid and reliable instrument to forecast the risk of aggressiveness in patients admitted to an acute care unit of psychiatry. It also allows monitoring and updating this risk during the patient's stay in the psychiatric intensive care unit

Antonovsky's sense of coherence and resistance resources reduce perception of burden in family carers of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: Taking care of people with dementia (PWD) has been associated with some degree of burden. The variability of the carer's burden can be partially explained by their personal characteristics. Antonovsky's model of health defined the resistance resources (RRs) as essential mechanisms to cope with stressors, and to shape the personal sense of coherence (SOC). This study identifies the RRs related with carer's SOC, and their implications in the perception of burden in family dementia carers.Methods: A sample of 308 participants from the 'SOC & DEM study' (154 carers and 154 PWD) was recruited from two memory clinics. Carer's personal characteristics of burden, SOC, self-efficacy, coping strategies, perceived social support, and depression were evaluated using standardized instruments. PWD's degree of dependence and behaviour and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were assessed too. A path analysis was used to test the relationship between caregiver burden and SOC including the personal RRs of the carers and clinical data of PWD.Results: The path model identified SOC as a major factor related to carer's burden perception (r = -.327). Self-efficacy (r = .285), two coping strategies, 'use instrumental support' (r = -.235) and 'behavioural disengagement' (r = -.219), and social support perceived (r = .304) were the main carer's personal characteristics directly related with SOC. Caring experience (r = -.281) was the main carer factor related with burden while dependence (r = .156) and BPSD (r = .157) were the dementia factors.Conclusion: The SOC has previously related with carer's burden. The results contributed to identify relevant and modifiable personal characteristics as RRs that could reduce this burden.

Incidence and characteristics of uncommon dementia subtypes: Results from 10 years of clinical surveillance by the Registry of Dementia of Girona.

INTRODUCTION: Age- and sex-stratified incidence rates of uncommon dementia subtypes are imprecise and scarce. METHODS: We used data from 7357 newly diagnosed individuals aged between 30.6 and 101.0 years from the Registry of Dementia of Girona during 2007-2016 to determine the incidence rates of uncommon dementia subtypes stratified by sex and age groups and to describe their clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Uncommon dementia subtypes were classified according to their etiology. The incidence rate of uncommon dementia subtypes was 27.8 cases per 100,000 person-years for those aged 30 years and older, 3.7 cases per 100,000 person-years for people aged less than 65 years, and 110.9 per 100,000 person-years for those aged 65 years and older. Age, sex, dementia severity, and medical comorbidities were different depending on the dementia subtype. DISCUSSION: There are differences in the incidence rates and the demographic and clinical characteristics among uncommon dementia subtypes for age and sex groups.

Course of depressive symptoms and associated factors in people aged 65+ in Europe: A two-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of depressive disorders presents notable differences among European countries. The objectives of the study are to determine the prevalence, incidence, persistence and remission rates of depressive symptoms and to identify risk factors and differences between four European regions. METHOD: Prospective cohort design using data from waves 5 and 6 (2013-15) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Sample size included 31,491 non-institutionalized adults aged 65+. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the EURO-D. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms (EURO-D ≥4) was 29.8% and 31.5%in waves 5 and 6, respectively. The risk factors associated depressive symptoms were poorer self-rated health, loneliness, impairment in ADL, female gender and financial difficulties. Incidence was 6.62 (99.9% CI: 6.61-6.63)/100 person-years and the persistence and remission rates were 9.22 and 5.78, respectively. Regarding the differences between European regions, the incidence (4.93 to 7.43) and persistence (5.14 to 11.86) rates followed the same ascending order: Northern, Eastern, Continental and Southern. The remission presented higher rates in the Eastern and Southern (6.60-6.61) countries than in the Northern and Continental (4.45-5.31) ones. LIMITATIONS: The EURO-D scale is unable to distinguish between clinically relevant depressive symptoms and major depression. CONCLUSION: The risk factors related to the incidence of depressive symptoms differed across European regions. In countries of eastern and southern Europe the most important predictors were female gender and impairment in ADL. Poorer self-rated health and older age were more relevant in the Northern countries, and chronic diseases were a key factor in the Continental region.

Depresión y variables asociadas en personas mayores de 50 años en España / Depression and associated variables in people over 50 years in Spain

Introducción: La depresión es un trastorno psiquiátrico incapacitante y frecuente en la edad adulta asociado a mayor mortalidad y discapacidad funcional. Objetivos: Determinar la asociación de las variables clínicas y sociodemográficas con la depresión, en una muestra de personas mayores de 50 años residentes en España, y comparar la prevalencia de depresión con los demás países del estudio Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Material y métodos: Muestra de 5.830 participantes de la muestra española de la «Wave 5», de 2013, del estudio SHARE. Instrumentos: EURO-D (depresión) y CASP-12 (calidad de vida). Análisis estadístico: bivariante y logístico binario. Resultados: En la regresión logística binaria, las variables asociadas a la depresión (EURO-D ≥4) fueron, principalmente, la mala percepción de salud física (OR=13,34; IC 95%: 9,74-18,27), la presencia de más de 2 dificultades en las actividades de la vida diaria (AVD) (OR=4,46; IC 95%: 3,13-6,34) y el género femenino (OR=2,16; IC 95%: 1,83-2,56). La depresión fue más frecuente en los participantes que padecían Alzheimer (76,4%), trastornos emocionales (73,9%), Parkinson (57,4%), fractura de cadera (55,4%) y reumatismos (50,9%). En la comparación con países europeos, España tenía un porcentaje de personas con depresión (29,3%) superior a la media europea (27,9%). Conclusiones: Las variables más relevantes asociadas a la depresión fueron la mala percepción de salud física, la presencia de dificultades en las AVD y el género femenino

Introduction: Depression is a common and disabling psychiatric disorder in adulthood and is associated with higher mortality and functional disability. Objectives: To determine the association between clinical and sociodemographic variables with depression in a sample of people over 50 years old living in Spain, and compare the prevalence of depression with the other Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE) countries. Material and methods: There were 5,830 participants in the Spanish sample of the Wave 5, 2013, of SHARE. Tools used: EURO-D (Depression) and CASP-12 (Quality of Life). Statistical analysis: Bivariate, and binary logistic. Results: The variables associated with depression in the binary logistic regression (EURO-D ≥4) were poor self-perceived physical health (OR=13.34; 95% CI: 9.74-18.27), having more than 2 difficulties in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (OR=4.46; 95% CI: 3.13-6.34) and female gender (OR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.83-2.56). Depression was more common among participants with Alzheimer (76.4%), emotional disorders (73.9%), Parkinson (57.4%), hip fracture (55.4%), and rheumatism (50.9%). Compared with other European countries, Spain had a percentage of people with depression (29.3%) that was higher than the European average (27.9%). Conclusions: The most important variables associated with depression were poor perceived physical health, presence of difficulties in ADL, and female gender

What seems to matter in public policy and the health of informal caregivers? A cross-sectional study in 12 European countries.

In Europe, informal caregiving is frequent and is expected to grow. Caregiving has an impact on caregivers' health, but its effect may vary according to the policies of support that are available to caregivers. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the policies of support to caregivers available in 12 European countries and the health of caregivers, considering separately the policies based on financial help and those based on training and other non- financial services. We used data from 13,507 caregivers from 12 European countries from the fifth wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to build a path model. Poor health among caregivers was associated with living in a family-based care country (ß = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.42-0.59), and with an increased extent of caregiving (ß = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.15-0.22). Non-financial support measures seem to have a larger protective impact (ß = -0.33; 95% CI = -0.38 - -0.28) on the health of caregivers than do financial support measures (ß = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01-0.04), regardless of the gender of the caregiver. According to our results, the currently available policies of support associated with better health among caregivers are those that: 1) provide them with some free time, 2) help them to deal emotionally with caregiving, and 3) give them skills to both improve the care situation and to deal with it better.

Measuring anticholinergic exposure in patients with dementia: A comparative study of nine anticholinergic risk scales.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and concordance of anticholinergic exposure according to 9 published scales, to quantify the relative weight of the drug subtypes included in each scale, and to identify clinical variables related to anticholinergic exposure. METHODS: Observational and cross-sectional study using 5323 cases of dementia diagnosed in the 7 hospitals of the public health care system of the Health Region of Girona (Spain) between 2007 and 2014 and registered by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi). We used the Pharmacy database that includes all the drugs prescribed by specialist and primary care physicians and dispensed in pharmacies. We calculated the anticholinergic exposure using the scoring rules of each scale. Age, gender, place of residence, dementia subtype, Clinical Dementia Rating score, Mini-Mental Status Examination score, and Blessed Dementia Rating Score at the moment of dementia diagnose were retrieved from the ReDeGi. RESULTS: Prevalence of the annual anticholinergic exposure ranged from 36.3% to 69.0% according to the different scales, the concordance among scales was poor to moderate, and the central nervous system drugs accounted the most for anticholinergic exposure. Being in a nursing home, having depressive symptoms, having a non-Alzheimer's dementia subtype, the number of drug treatments, and the severity of dementia were main determinants of anticholinergic exposure. CONCLUSIONS: There is a large difference in outcomes among the 9 anticholinergic risk scales. Clinicians and researchers should be aware of these differences when using these instruments in patients with dementia.

Factor structure of depressive symptoms using the EURO-D scale in the over-50s in Europe. Findings from the SHARE project.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are: to analyze the factor structure of the EURO-D depression scale; to explore the variables associated with depressive symptoms in the total sample and in the EURO-D factors; and to compare the presence of depressive symptoms and the factor distribution in 15 European countries. METHOD: 62,182 participants in Wave 5 (2013) of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were included. INSTRUMENTS: The SHARE study and the EURO-D scale. Factor, bivariate and multilevel analyses were performed. RESULTS: Higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with a poorer self-perception of physical health (η2 = 0.22) and economic difficulties (η2 = 0.07). Factor analysis of the EURO-D identified two factors: Suffering and Motivation. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with female gender and younger age (≤60) in the Suffering factor, and with less activity and exercise, older age (≥71), widowhood and lower educational level in the Motivation factor. Poorer self-perception of physical health and economic difficulties were associated with higher depressive symptomatology in both factors. CONCLUSIONS: Poorer self-perception of physical health, female gender, economic difficulties, widowhood, lower levels of activity and exercise and lower educational level were associated with higher depressive symptomatology. In the countries of southern Europe, the Motivation factor predominated.

Depression and associated variables in people over 50 years in Spain. / Depresión y variables asociadas en personas mayores de 50 años en España.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a common and disabling psychiatric disorder in adulthood and is associated with higher mortality and functional disability. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between clinical and sociodemographic variables with depression in a sample of people over 50 years old living in Spain, and compare the prevalence of depression with the other Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE) countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 5,830 participants in the Spanish sample of the Wave 5, 2013, of SHARE. Tools used: EURO-D (Depression) and CASP-12 (Quality of Life). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Bivariate, and binary logistic. RESULTS: The variables associated with depression in the binary logistic regression (EURO-D ≥4) were poor self-perceived physical health (OR=13.34; 95% CI: 9.74-18.27), having more than 2 difficulties in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (OR=4.46; 95% CI: 3.13-6.34) and female gender (OR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.83-2.56). Depression was more common among participants with Alzheimer (76.4%), emotional disorders (73.9%), Parkinson (57.4%), hip fracture (55.4%), and rheumatism (50.9%). Compared with other European countries, Spain had a percentage of people with depression (29.3%) that was higher than the European average (27.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The most important variables associated with depression were poor perceived physical health, presence of difficulties in ADL, and female gender.

Estudio MESGI50: descripción de una cohorte sobre la madurez y el envejecimiento satisfactorio / Mesgi50 study: description of a cohort on maturity and satisfactory ageing

Objetivo: Describir las principales características demográficas, de salud y socioeconómicas de los participantes en el Estudio sobre la Madurez y el Envejecimiento Satisfactorio en Girona (estudio MESGI50). Métodos: Estudio epidemiológico poblacional vinculado a la Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). La población de referencia fueron los habitantes de la provincia de Girona de 50 y más años de edad. Se utilizó un muestreo probabilístico por conglomerados bietápico estratificado según el número de habitantes y el grado de envejecimiento de la población. Resultados: Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 28 municipios según su tipo (demográficamente envejecidos o jóvenes) y estratificados según el número de habitantes. La tasa de respuesta fue del 65%, con una media de 1,7 sujetos elegibles por hogar y una muestra final de 2065 hogares y 3331 participantes. El efecto del diseño fue de 1,27. El 52,9% eran mujeres y la media de edad era de 66,9 años (desviación estándar: 11,5). La salud autorreferida, la fuerza de agarre manual, la limitación en las actividades de la vida diaria y la sintomatología depresiva aumentaron con la edad y de forma más acusada en las mujeres. Se observaron diferencias en el consumo de alcohol y en los patrones de alimentación según el ámbito de residencia. Conclusiones: Las características demográficas, de salud y socioeconómicas durante el proceso de envejecimiento son distintas según los grupos de edad, el sexo y el ámbito de residencia (AU)

Objective: To describe the demographic, health and socio-economic characteristics of the participants in the Study on Maturity and Satisfactory Ageing in Girona (MESGI50 study). Methods: Population-based Study linked to the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The reference population was the inhabitants of the province of Girona (Spain) aged 50 and over. A probabilistic two-stage stratified cluster sampling according to the number of inhabitants and the degree of ageing of the population was used. Results: Twenty-eight municipalities were randomly selected according to their type (demographically aged or young), and then stratified by the population size. The response rate was 65% with a mean of 1.7 eligible individuals per household and a final sample of 2,065 households and 3,331 participants. The design effect was 1.27. 52.9% were women and the mean age was 66.9 years (SD=11.5). The self-rated health status, hand grip strength, restriction in daily life activities and depressive symptomatology increased with age and more markedly in women. There were differences in alcohol consumption and eating patterns depending on the area of residence. Conclusions: The demographic, health and socio-economic characteristics during the ageing process differ depending on age group, gender, and area of residence (AU)

Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines during Dementia Work-Up in a Real-World Setting: A Study from the Registry of Dementias of Girona.

BACKGROUND: There are several position statements and clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for diagnosing dementia. OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to evaluate the adherence to CPG among specialists in the 7 memory clinics included in the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi), and to compare the results between 2007-2011 and 2012-2015. We also determined the time and number of visits required to achieve a diagnosis, the supplementary tests ordered, and the drugs prescribed according to dementia subtypes. METHODS: Medical charts of a stratified random sample of 475 ReDeGi cases were reviewed. Basic dementia work-up was evaluated using as a reference evidence-based CPG. An Index of Adherence (AI) was calculated using the following items in the medical chart: cognitive symptomatology; functional disability evaluation; physical examination; neurological examination; psychiatric examination; brief cognitive examination; activities of daily living performance examination; blood test; structural neuroimaging (CT-scan or MRI). RESULTS: The mean AI to CPG among specialists was of 8.2 points, and it improved from 7.9 points in 2007-2011 to 8.5 points in 2012-2015 (Cohen's d = 0.46). A lower adherence was detected in the most severe cases. A dementia diagnosis required 3.5 visits, regardless of the subtype of dementia, although milder cases required more time, more visits, and more supplementary tests than severe cases. CONCLUSION: The adherence to CPG in the catchment area of the ReDeGi is high, and an epidemiological surveillance system such as the ReDeGi may help in improving it. Dementia guidelines should establish procedures adapted to clinical practice, with simplified recommendations for most severe cases.

Trends in the Prescription and Long-Term Utilization of Antidementia Drugs Among Patients with Alzheimer's Disease in Spain: A Cohort Study Using the Registry of Dementias of Girona.

BACKGROUND: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and the N-methyl D-aspartate-antagonist memantine are indicated for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVES: Our aims were to describe the baseline characteristics of patients with AD according to prescription of these treatments after the diagnostic work-up to describe long-term trends in the use of these medications and to identify baseline characteristics associated with the frequency of use of each treatment. METHODS: This was a cohort study with a sample of 2992 patients with AD recorded in the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi) between 2007 and 2014. Consumption of AChEIs and memantine was assessed using the Pharmacy Unit database from the Public Catalan Healthcare Service. We used generalized estimating equation analyses to identify the baseline characteristics associated with the consumption of AChEIs and memantine over time. RESULTS: Most of the patients (70.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 68.7-72.0) were prescribed antidementia medication at the time of diagnosis. Of these, 75.0% (95% CI 73.1-76.8) were prescribed AChEIs, 14.7% (95% CI 13.2-16.3) were prescribed an AChEI plus memantine, and 10.3% (95% CI 9.0-11.6) were prescribed memantine. Advanced age reduced the likelihood of AChEI consumption. Mild dementia severity increased the use of AChEIs, and moderate-advanced dementia increased the likelihood of memantine consumption. After diagnosis, the likelihood of AChEI consumption decreased from the first year until the fifth, whereas the likelihood of memantine consumption, either alone or in combination with AChEIs, increased. CONCLUSIONS: Antidementia drug use in this study showed the initial use of AChEIs alone with later use of AChEIs in combination with memantine and memantine alone in older patients with severe AD. Our findings are in agreement with current clinical practice guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of AD.

Kinematic and Pressure Features of Handwriting and Drawing: Preliminary Results Between Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer Disease and Healthy Controls.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative dementia of old age, and the leading chronic disease contributor to disability and dependence among older people worldwide. Clinically, AD is characterized by a progressive cognitive decline that interferes with the ability to perform the activities of daily living. Handwriting and drawing are complex human activities that entail an intricate blend of cognitive, kinesthetic, and perceptual-motor features. OBJECTIVE: To compare the kinematic characteristics of handwriting and drawing between patients with AD, patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional and observational design to assess the kinematic and pressure features of handwriting and drawing using a computerized system. Participants were asked to copy one sentence, write a dictated sentence and an own sentence, copy two and-three dimensions drawings, and to execute the clock drawing test. By means of discriminant analyses, we explored the value of several kinematic features in order to classify participants depending on their degree of cognitive functioning. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 52 participants (23 AD, 12 MCI, and 17 healthy controls) with a mean age of 69.7 years (SD=8.11). The degree of correct classification was largely dependent on the nature of the groups to be classified and the specific task, and ranged between 63.5% and 100%. Diagnostic accuracy based on kinematic measures showed higher specificity values for distinguishing between normal and impaired cognition (MCI and AD), and higher sensitivity was obtained when distinguishing between impaired cognition levels (MCI vs. AD). CONCLUSION: The kinematic features of writing and drawing procedures, rather than the final product, may be a useful and objective complement to the clinical assessment of patients with cognitive impairment.

A Path Analysis of Dependence and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the direct and indirect relationships of cognitive, functional, and behavioral factors and other medical comorbidities with the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to the theoretical model of dependence. METHODS: Observational and cross-sectional study. Cognitive and functional status, behavior, dependence, medical comorbidities, and QoL were assessed by using standardized instruments. A path analysis was used to model the direct and indirect relationships among clinical indicators according to the theoretically based model of dependence. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 343 patients with AD (32.1% mild, 36.7% moderate, and 31.2% severe). Medical comorbidities, disease severity, and dependence level had a direct relationship with QoL. The functional disability and the behavior disturbances were indirectly related to QoL via dependence level, and the cognitive impairment was indirectly related to QoL via severity level. CONCLUSION: Direct and indirect effects exist between clinical indicators, dependence, and QoL.