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Comorbidity and polypharmacy in people with dementia: insights from a large, population-based cross-sectional analysis of primary care data
Clague F, Mercer SW, McLean G, Reynish E, Guthrie B.. Age and ageing, 2017-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background The care of older people with dementia is often complicated by physical comorbidity and polypharmacy, but the extent and patterns of these have not been well described. This paper reports analysis of these factors within a large, cross-sectional primary care data set. Methods Data were extracted for 291,169 people aged 65 years or older registered with 314 general practices in the UK, of whom 10,258 had an electronically recorded dementia diagnosis. Differences in the number and type of 32 physical conditions and the number of repeat prescriptions in those with and without dementia were examined. Age–gender standardised rates were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of physical comorbidity and polypharmacy. Results People with dementia, after controlling for age and sex, had on average more physical conditions than controls (mean number of conditions 2.9 versus 2.4; P Conclusions People with dementia have a higher burden of comorbid physical disease and polypharmacy than those without dementia, even after accounting for age and sex differences. Such complex needs require an integrated response from general health professionals and multidisciplinary dementia specialists.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Clague, F., Mercer, S. W., McLean, G., Reynish, E., & Guthrie, B. (2017). Comorbidity and polypharmacy in people with dementia: insights from a large, population-based cross-sectional analysis of primary care data. Age and ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw176
Vancouver
Clague F, Mercer SW, McLean G, Reynish E, Guthrie B. Comorbidity and polypharmacy in people with dementia: insights from a large, population-based cross-sectional analysis of primary care data. Age and ageing. 2017. doi:10.1093/ageing/afw176. PMID: 28181629.
BibTeX
@article{clague2017-28181629,
author = {Clague, F. and Mercer, S. W. and McLean, G. and Reynish, E. and Guthrie, B.},
title = {{Comorbidity and polypharmacy in people with dementia: insights from a large, population-based cross-sectional analysis of primary care data}},
journal = {Age and ageing},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1093/ageing/afw176},
pmid = {28181629},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw176}
}
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Key findings
- Results People with dementia, after controlling for age and sex, had on average more physical conditions than controls (mean number of conditions 2.9 versus 2.4; P < 0.001) and were on more repeat medication (mean number of repeats 5.4 versus 4.2; P < 0.001).
Why it matters
This large cross-sectional analysis found that people with dementia had more physical conditions and more repeat prescriptions than those without dementia. It describes health needs in dementia but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants291,169
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Age and ageing) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Age and Ageing: journal h-index 231 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 291,169 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 194 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.6 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 50 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Bruce Guthrie: h-index 71 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Glasgow: institution h-index 1,600 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28181629) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
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