A new retrospective analysis reported that Alzheimer's patients in nursing homes who were treated with ARICEPT(reg) for at least six months showed greater benefits in cognitive and functional status than patients who discontinued therapy. The findings, based on data obtained from an assessment tool used nationally by nursing homes, were presented at the American Geriatrics Society Meeting (AGS) today.
Continued treatment was also associated with more patient time spent in leisure activities and lower average daily labor costs, compared with discontinuing treatment.*
"This analysis supports the need to treat nursing home residents who have Alzheimer's disease to help them with their ability to perform daily activities," said Jonathan Musher, M.D., corporate medical director, Beverly Healthcare Corporation, a national long-term care provider for the elderly.
The analysis of nursing home residents was the first to examine the impact of Alzheimer's treatment with ARICEPT(reg) using data from the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. This national assessment tool includes measures to evaluate Alzheimer's disease patients, including aspects of cognitive and functional status.
The one-year retrospective analysis collected MDS data to evaluate changes over baseline in patients receiving continued ARICEPT(reg) treatment (n=210) and those who discontinued treatment (n=210). Patients in each cohort were matched demographically and with respect to a variety of factors, including cognitive status, function, behavior, medical status and selected medications used, enabling comparisons across the treatment groups in addition to evaluation within each group. Measures included cognitive and functional status, time spent in leisure activities, behavior and average daily labor costs associated with patient care.
For all patients in the analysis, a baseline MDS assessment was completed within the first 60 days of treatment. In the continuing treatment group, MDS data were collected six to 12 months following initiation of treatment. In the discontinued group, data were collected at least 90 days after treatment was discontinued and within 12 months of initial treatment.
The analysis also showed that, for patients who continued treatment with ARICEPT(reg), the frequency of problematic behaviors declined compared to baseline. Further, the average difference in daily labor cost (in 2001-2002 dollars) was $6.90 less per day, per patient in patients who continued treatment compared to those who discontinued treatment. Average daily labor cost per resident is based on the resident's acuity (i.e., severity of impairment). The higher the acuity, the more labor the resident requires.
Information About ARICEPT(reg) (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) Treatment
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, medical treatments are available to manage symptoms of the disease. Once-a-day prescription ARICEPT(reg) is indicated for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
In a progressively degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's, improvement, stabilization or a less-than-expected decline over time is considered a positive response to treatment. These types of responses have been observed in patients treated with ARICEPT(reg) in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Individual responses to treatment vary, and some patients may not respond.
ARICEPT(reg) is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. Some people may experience nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, muscle cramps, fatigue, or loss of appetite. In studies, these side effects were usually mild and temporary. Some people taking ARICEPT(reg) may experience fainting.
ARICEPT(reg) is the number one prescribed Alzheimer's disease therapy worldwide, with more than 1 billion patient days of ARICEPT(reg) therapy sold. More than 1.7 million people in the United States alone have begun ARICEPT(reg) therapy.
ARICEPT(reg) is co-promoted in the United States by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc, which are dedicated to advances in Alzheimer's therapy.
For more information about managing Alzheimer's disease and about ARICEPT(reg), and for prescribing information on ARICEPT(reg), please call (888) 999-9616, or visit aricept. Full prescribing information is available at that Web site.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care company that discovers, develops, and markets products in more than 30 countries.
Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business with sales of more than $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2002 (year ending March 31, 2003).
Eisai Inc. employs a total of more than 850 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, N.J., at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and in the field. Between 1998 and 2003, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings of U.S. pharmaceutical companies (based on revenues) from No. 44 to No.23.
About Pfizer
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets leading prescription medicines, for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products.
*The labor cost per resident is based on the resident's acuity (i.e., severity of impairment). The higher the acuity, the more labor the resident requires. The cost accounting system uses the acuity and the total labor charges to generate an average daily labor cost per resident.
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