Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30013333›Full record

Observational studyClinical interventions in aging2018

Thyroid function tests before prescribing anti-dementia drugs: a retrospective observational study.

Nobuo Sakata, Yasuyuki Okumura

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical interventions in aging, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nobuo SakataResearch Department, Institute for Health Economics and Policy, Association for Health Economics Research and Social Insurance and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan, yokumura@blue.zero.jp.
Yasuyuki OkumuraResearch Department, Institute for Health Economics and Policy, Association for Health Economics Research and Social Insurance and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan, yokumura@blue.zero.jp.
Institute for Health Economics and Policy · JPTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science · JP

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTreatable causes of cognitive dysfunction, such as hypothyroidism, should be excluded by physicians before prescribing anti-dementia drugs. Many clinical guidelines for dementia recommend a thyroid function test (TFT) as one of the standard screening tests for cognitive dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the national implementation rate of TFTs during the 365 days before the initiation of anti-dementia drugs. PATIENTS AND

methodsIn this retrospective observational study, using Japan's nationwide claim database, we enrolled ≥65-year-old patients who were newly prescribed anti-dementia drugs between April 2015 and March 2016. The outcome of this study was the implementation of TFTs in the 365 days prior to the index date. We used demographic data, including age, sex, comorbidities, home-based/institutional care, and provider type, as covariates.

resultsWe identified 262,279 patients newly prescribed anti-dementia drugs; of these, only 32.6% underwent TFTs before the initiation of anti-dementia drug treatment. Patients treated in dementia care centers were twice as likely to undergo TFTs as those treated in clinics (57% vs 26%; adjusted risk ratio: 2.17; 95% confidence interval: 2.01-2.33).

conclusionIn Japan, patients with dementia often do not undergo TFTs before being prescribed anti-dementia drugs, particularly in a primary care setting. This suggests that the practice of screening treatable cognitive dysfunction should be audited.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overCholinesterase InhibitorsCognitive DysfunctionDementiaFemaleHumansHypothyroidismJapanMalePractice Patterns, Physicians'Retrospective StudiesThyroid Function TestsCholinesterase Inhibitorscognitive dysfunctiondrug treatmentguideline adherencehypothyroidism

Identifiers

PMID30013333
PMCPMC6038886
OpenAlexW2874510776

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.