Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Participants underwent Neuropsychiatric Inventory to assess the frequency and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline and 3 and 6 months after the switch from oral ChEi to transdermal rivastigmine patch. A descriptive post hoc analysis was conducted to assess whether there were gender-based differences in BPSD profile during the 6 months after the switch. RESULTS: The entire sample consisted of 475 patients, 274 women and 201 men. Women were on average slightly older and with poorer cognitive performance (60.6% of the women had moderate-AD, defined as Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score of 10-17, vs. 43.8% of men). In mild-AD patients (MMSE score 18-26), the frequency of BPSD did not change significantly over time and an association was found between gender and depression (odds ratio; OR [95% confidence interval; CI] female vs. male = 3.32 [1.44-7.67]), anxiety (2.42 [1.23-4.79]), apathy (2.25 [1.07-4.70]), nighttime behavior disturbances (3.97 [1.66-9.49]), and appetite/eating abnormalities (2.39 [1.10-5.18]). Moderate-AD female patients had euphoria more frequently than male patients (OR [95% CI] female vs. male = 3.67 [1.25-10.74]). The frequency of delusions, anxiety, and irritability decreased during the first 3 months after the switch, independently of gender. CONCLUSION: Mild-AD women tended to suffer more frequently from BPSD than men; in the 3 months after treatment switch, moderate-AD patients showed a decrease in delusions, anxiety, and irritability, with no significant differences between genders. Ad hoc studies to investigate this potential gender effect in AD could be well worthwhile.
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Authors | Delia Colombo, Carlo Caltagirone, Alessandro Padovani, Sandro Sorbi, Gianfranco Spalletta, Lucia Simoni, Alessandra Ori, Emanuela Zagni |
Journal | Journal of women's health (2002)
(J Womens Health (Larchmt))
Vol. 27
Issue 11
Pg. 1368-1377
(11 2018)
ISSN: 1931-843X [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 30085899
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors
- Rivastigmine
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Topics |
- Administration, Oral
- Aged
- Alzheimer Disease
(diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
- Behavioral Symptoms
(drug therapy, etiology, psychology)
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Cognition
(drug effects)
- Drug Substitution
(methods, statistics & numerical data)
- Female
- Humans
- Italy
(epidemiology)
- Male
- Mental Competency
- Mental Status and Dementia Tests
- Psychological Techniques
- Rivastigmine
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Sex Factors
- Transdermal Patch
- Treatment Outcome
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