Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42675112›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

A comprehensive German claims data analysis of care pathways, risk factors and comorbidities among acetylcholinesterase inhibitor initiators in Alzheimer's disease.

Christopher Maas, Laura Fang, Elke Mathey, Christian Jacob, Timotheus Stremel, Tammo Viering, Roland Fliedner, Marlena Schnieder, Christine A F von Arnim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Christopher MaasPharmaLex GmbH, Part of Cencora Inc., Lange Laube 31, 30159, Hannover, Germany. christopher.maas@cencora.com.
Laura FangNovo Nordisk Pharma GmbH, Isaac-Fulda-Allee 24, 55124, Mainz, Germany.
Elke MatheyNovo Nordisk Pharma GmbH, Isaac-Fulda-Allee 24, 55124, Mainz, Germany.
Christian JacobPharmaLex GmbH, Part of Cencora Inc., Lange Laube 31, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
Timotheus StremelPharmaLex GmbH, Part of Cencora Inc., Lange Laube 31, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
Tammo VieringPharmaLex GmbH, Part of Cencora Inc., Lange Laube 31, 30159, Hannover, Germany.
Roland FliednerDepartment of Geriatrics, University of Goettingen Medical Center, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Marlena SchniederDepartment of Geriatrics, University of Goettingen Medical Center, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Christine A F von ArnimDepartment of Geriatrics, University of Goettingen Medical Center, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Early stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), commonly referred to as early AD (eAD), represent a critical phase for timely diagnosis and intervention. However, significant gaps remain in understanding real-world care of individuals initiating first-line treatment such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-I) in Germany. A retrospective study was conducted using the German InGef claims database with a pragmatic proxy approach, identifying de novo AChE-I initiators as individuals suspected of having eAD. Two cohorts were defined: a pre-cohort (2022) capturing eight-years prior to AChE-I initiation, and a post-cohort (2017), analyzing five-years following initiation. Patients were matched 1:1 to controls without AD based on demographic characteristics. Outcomes included comorbidities, risk factors, diagnostics, prescriptions, and survival. The study identified 1,994 (pre-cohort) and 2,051 (post-cohort) AChE-I initiators, and respective controls. Mobility disorders increased significantly (+ 55%) over the eight years preceding treatment. Eight years pre-initiation, 81.9% of initiators exhibited at least one modifiable risk factor compared to 76.2% in controls (p < 0.001). Advanced diagnostic procedures were underutilized (MRI: 39.0%, cerebrospinal fluid analysis: 9.2%, in year -1). Only 78.6% received an AD-specific diagnosis within the first year post-initiation. Extensive use of psycholeptics and psychoanaleptics was observed, with a notable decline in dementia-specific medications post-initiation. Post-initiation, initiators showed higher comorbidity burden (e.g., urinary incontinence: 40.2% vs. 10.7% by year 5) and higher observed, unadjusted mortality (53.3% vs. 21.7%, p < 0.001). This study highlights patterns suggestive of gaps in the management of AChE-I initiators in Germany, including underutilization of guideline-based diagnostics, high comorbidity burden, and higher observed mortality. Improved management strategies and the development of more precise diagnostic coding that reflects disease stages could help to address these issues.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCholinesterase InhibitorsAgedAged, 80 and overComorbidityFemaleGermanyHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsCholinesterase InhibitorsAcetylcholinesterase inhibitorsClaims dataComorbiditiesDiagnosticsDisease managementEarly Alzheimer’s diseaseReal-world evidenceRetrospectiveRisk factors

Identifiers

PMID42675112
PMCPMC13529785

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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.