OBJECTIVES: There may be substantial differences between countries in terms of persistence with antidementia drugs and the management of dementia is likely to be population specific. The aim of this study was to analyze the twelve-month-years persistence with anti-dementia drugs in Germany and Italy.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study based on the IQVIA longitudinal prescription (LRx) databases from Germany and Italy, comprises prescriptions reimbursed by statutory health insurance funds in these countries (data coverage is 80% in Germany and Italy). Patients aged ≥65 years who received an initial prescription of donepezil, memantine, rivastigmine, and memantine from 2018 to 2021 (index date) were included. The study outcome measure was the rate of persistence within twelve months of the index date. Therapy discontinuation was defined as at least 180 days without therapy. Kaplan–Meier Curves were performed to show the persistence per country. All analyses were conducted using Country Patient Analytics (CPA) tool.

RESULTS: This study included 438,330 patients from Germany and 268,305 from Italy. The twelve-month persistence rate was 70% in Germany and 56% in Italy. In both countries, no relevant age- and sex-related persistence differences were observed. In Germany, persistence was 68% in the age group 60-69, 70% in the age group 70-79, and 69% in the age group ≥80; 70% in women, 69% in men. In Italy, persistence was 56% in the age group 60-69, 58% in the age group 70-79, and 54% in the age group ≥80; 56% in women, 56% in men.

CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that 12-month-persistence with anti-dementia drugs was much higher in Germany than in Italy. Further research is necessary to better understand, in particular, the patient-related and health-economic reasons underlying the discontinuation of anti-dementia therapy.