A Prospective Study To Analyze The Cognitive Function And Drug Utilization Pattern In Patients With Dementia In A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Dementia is a condition of the gradual decline of mental functions such as thinking, memory, and reasoning that is severe enough to interfere with a person's daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. Cognitive decline is one of the important factors affecting the quality of life in geriatric patients, although the WHO has declared ‘Dementia’ as a priority health condition. Drug utilization review is defined as an authorized, structured, ongoing review of prescribing, dispensing and use of medications. The aim of this study was to analyze the cognitive function and drug utilization pattern in dementia cases. The study design was an observational, prospective study of one month – interval follows up, including both male and female patients of age group > 45 yrs in Pushpagiri medical college hospital, Thiruvalla. The total sample size of the study was 56. The cognitive function was analyzed by Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination scale and drug utilization pattern analyzed through patient’s prescription records and a detailed patient data collection proforma