Ching_2024_Aging.Med.(Milton)_7_312

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the factors associated with treatment outcomes in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) after 1 year of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) treatment. METHOD: We obtained electronic medical records from a medical center in Southern Taiwan between January 2015 and September 2021. Participants aged <=60 who were newly diagnosed with AD and had been prescribed AChEIs were included. Cognitive assessments were performed before the AChEIs were prescribed and at the 1 year follow-up. Cognition progressors were defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination decline of >3 or a Clinical Dementia Rating decline of <=1 after 1 year of AChEI treatment. The relationship between the baseline characteristics and cognitive status after follow-up was investigated using logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 1370 patients were included in our study (mean age, 79.86 +/- 8.14 years). After adjustment, the body mass index (BMI) was found to be significantly lower in the progressor group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.970, 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs): 0.943 to 0.997, P = 0.033]. The usage of antipsychotics was significantly higher in the progressor group (AOR: 1.599, 95% CIs: 1.202 to 2.202, P = 0.001). The usage of benzodiazepine receptor agonists also tended to be significantly higher in the progressor group (AOR: 1.290, 95% CIs: 0.996 to 1.697, p = 0.054). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients with AD who receive 1 year of AChEI treatment and have a lower BMI or concurrent treatment with antipsychotics and benzodiazepine receptor agonists are more likely to suffer from cognitive decline.