Drug use and healthcare consumption among persons with intellectual disabilities and dementia: A registry study

Aim: To describe drug use and healthcare utilisation among persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) and dementia in comparison to persons with ID only and dementia only. Method: From the group of persons with ID (n=7936), 216 individuals with dementia were identified. 81 persons with dementia were identified from a general population sample matched by age and sex. Information on outcomes was collected retrospectively from national registries. Healthcare utilisation was measured as the number of hospital visits and the number of hospitalisations. Drug use was assessed for antipsychotics, benzodiazepine derivatives, and anticholinesterases. Results: Persons with ID and dementia had higher healthcare utilisation than persons with ID but without dementia, but similar levels as persons with dementia in the general population sample. They were more likely to use antipsychotics and less likely to use anticholinesterases than persons with dementia but without ID. Conclusions: Dementia in persons with ID seems to increase healthcare utilisation and drug use. However, with respect to healthcare utilisation, the levels do not exceed those found among persons with dementia in the general population.