Use Of Medication Reviews Among Older Women With Dementia, 2003-2015: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Objective To identify factors associated with incidence of medication reviews (MRs), particularly in women with dementia and in residential aged care (RAC). Methods Data from 10 359 women in the 1921-1926 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were linked to Medicare Benefits Schedule data to identify MRs for each year from 2003 to 2015. Results Incidence of MR increased from 2003 to 2013 (age 87-92 years) when 37.1% of women with dementia had a MR compared to 19.8% of women without dementia. Adjusting for time and other factors, the odds of having a MR were higher for women with dementia (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06-1.32) and women in RAC (AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 3.28-3.98). Conclusions Although higher in women with dementia and those in RAC, utilisation of MR was modest. System-level interventions may be required to ensure the use and benefits of MRs.