Relations Between Four Assessment Scales and Improved Medication Adherence in Alzheimer’s Disease Population

Background: and Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether Alzheimer's disease (AD) assessment scales, which are widely being used in clinic, had relation with the improved medication adherence of AD patients. Methods: In this prospective study, fifty-eight participants were recruited and thirty-one finally finished the procedures. Four neuropsychological scales (Alzheimer’s diseases Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, Activity of Daily Living Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and The Clinician Interview-based Impression of Change, plus carer interview) were implemented and medication adherence rate were improved by multiple subjective methods (involving healthcare providers and caregivers), from June 2014 to June 2018. Statistical methods included bivariate and partial correlations controlled by the clinical factors of multiple patients. Correlation analysis were carried out for each item in the cognitive part of the Alzheimer's Disease Rating scale and medication adherence. Results: The median adherence rate was 98.04%. No correlation between the four scales and the medication adherence of patients with AD was identified (P > 0.05). Partial correlation analysis also failed to reveal the correlation after excluding medication adherence–related factors (P > 0.05). But in Alzheimer's diseases Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, scores of Commands and Constructional Praxis had a weak correlation with medication adherence (P = 0.015 and P = 0.033; correlation coefficients were 0.201 and 0.177, respectively). Conclusions: Existing AD neuropsychological scales showed no relation with medication adherence rate elevated by multiple methods in AD patients, while performance, language, and visuospatial ability might be related to medication adherence in these population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02293915