Abstract
BackgroundCaring for the growing dementia population with complex health care needs in West Virginia has been challenging due to its large, sizably rural-dwelling geriatric population and limited resource availability.ObjectiveThis paper aims to illustrate the application of an informatics platform to drive dementia research and quality care through a preliminary study of benzodiazepine (BZD) prescription patterns and its effects on health care use by geriatric patients.MethodsThe Maier Institute Data Mart, which contains clinical and billing data on patients aged 65 years and older (N=98,970) seen within our clinics and hospital, was created. Relevant variables were analyzed to identify BZD prescription patterns and calculate related charges and emergency department (ED) use.ResultsNearly one-third (4346/13,910, 31.24%) of patients with dementia received at least one BZD prescription, 20% more than those without dementia. More women than men received at least one BZD prescription. On average, patients with dementia and at least one BZD prescription sustained higher charges and visited the ED more often than those without one.ConclusionsThe Appalachian Informatics Platform has the potential to enhance dementia care and research through a deeper understanding of dementia, data enrichment, risk identification, and care gap analysis.
Highlights
Dementia is the fifth leading cause of death among people older than 65 in the United States [1]
The information contained within the Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW) consists of internal structured electronic health record MU/JCESOM (EHR) data, non-EHR survey data, and unstructured information received from Marshall Health practice plan, Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH), and MU/JCESOM’s Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center
Between the years of 2010 and 2019, there were 98,952 patients aged 65 and older who received any service from Marshall University physicians in CHH or the ambulatory geriatric clinic
Summary
Dementia is the fifth leading cause of death among people older than 65 in the United States [1]. The prevalence of dementia has been escalating, especially in West Virginia, a state with one of the highest percentages of older adults in its population [2]. But more than half (52.5%) of these older adults reside in rural areas [3]. As of early 2019, an estimated 38,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were living in West Virginia, and this number is expected to increase to 44,000 by 2025 [4]. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, West https://medinform.jmir.org/2020/8/e18389. Caring for the growing dementia population with complex health care needs in West Virginia has been challenging due to its large, sizably rural-dwelling geriatric population and limited resource availability
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