HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Cited by other online articles Google Scholar Articles by Taylor, D. H. Articles by Murali Doraiswamy, P. Articles citing this Article PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Taylor, D. H., Jr. Articles by Murali Doraiswamy, P.

Marked Increase in Alzheimer's Disease Identified in Medicare Claims Records Between 1991 and 1999

¹ Center for Health Policy, Law and Management, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
² Departments of Psychiatry, Geriatrics, and Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
³ Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina.

Address correspondence to Donald Taylor, PhD, Box 90253, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708. E-mail: dtaylor{at}hpolicy.duke.edu

Background. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that African Americans have higher rates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) than do whites. Examining longitudinal trends in the number of persons who are identified as having AD in administrative databases may provide insights into this phenomenon.

Methods. We analyzed 9-year longitudinal data (1991–1999) for 29,679 Medicare beneficiaries who were screened for the National Long-Term Care Survey. Cases of AD were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes from Medicare claims files.

Results. Age-adjusted rates of Medicare beneficiaries identified as having AD rose from 1991–1999 for all groups studied, but particularly among African Americans. In 1991, African Americans made up 6.5% of the identified AD cases but comprised 11.0% of cases in 1999 (X² = 6.79, p =.005). The rate of increase in identification of AD was particularly large for women who were aged 85 years and older.

Conclusions. Reasons for increased identification of AD in Medicare claims is likely multifactorial; sharp increases among African Americans may reflect improved access.

This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)

				K. M. Sink, K. F. Holden, and K. Yaffe Pharmacological Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia: A Review of the Evidence JAMA, February 2, 2005; 293(5): 596 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]