Role In Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease Patients Shifts From Neurologists To Primary Care Physicians And Psychiatrists In Long-Term Care Market

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 15 Oct 2007 - 8:00 PDT

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Although in the commercial market neurologists diagnose more Alzheimer's disease patients per month than any other physician specialty, they are minor diagnosticians in the long-term care market (LTC), where primary care physicians (PCPs) and psychiatrists take on the primary role of screening and assessing the severity of Alzheimer's disease patients, according to new research by GfK Market Measures.

Additionally, the number of Alzheimer's disease-diagnosed patients being transitioned to LTC facilities, and thus into the care of LTC physicians, has increased 25 percent over figures reported last year, according to the research. These data points and others revealed through research from GfK Market Measures' 2007 Alzheimer's Disease Physician Study and 2007 Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease in Long-Term Care Study point to a growing opportunity for pharmaceutical manufacturers in the LTC market. In particular, the findings underscore the importance of pharmaceutical marketing efforts tailored to the LTC physician segment, particularly those communications aimed at PCPs and psychiatrists, who play the primary role in screening and evaluating Alzheimer's disease patients in the LTC setting.

While neurologists participating in the research studies indicated that in a commercial setting they diagnosis approximately 32 patients every 90 days compared to 25 by psychiatrists and 14 by PCPs, when examining diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in the LTC setting (where upon entering a facility, a full 20 percent of Alzheimer's disease patients are first diagnosed), there is a dramatic reversal of roles. In LTC settings - both skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and assisted living facilities (ALF) - the primary specialist in screening and evaluating Alzheimer's disease patients becomes the PCP (28 percent in SNF/42 percent in ALF) and psychiatrist (16 percent in SNF/14 percent in ALF) compared with neurologists (5 percent in each SNF and ALF).

GfK Market Measures' 2007 Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Study also supports this notion of PCPs as the primary diagnostician, with 68 percent of caregivers identifying PCPs as the key health care professional in both diagnosing and managing their loved one's disease.

"This research is compelling in that it really points to a significant opportunity for Alzheimer's drug manufacturers in the long-term care market - a market that is currently underestimated in its importance," said Kim Lazarus, Vice President and Category Business Leader, Neurology, for GfK Market Measures. "The key implication for manufacturers is to understand that their target audience may differ between the commercial and LTC markets. In addition, if they do not have a field force that is specific to the LTC market, they can better target their detailing to the dual practicing commercial market and LTC physicians and send appropriate messages, which may not always be the same."

More Than 900 Health Care Providers Share Their Insights

Reflecting insights from 227 physicians, including PCPs, neurologists and psychiatrists, fielded via Internet questionnaire in July 2007, GfK Market Measures' 2007 Alzheimer's Disease Physician Study provides a comprehensive analysis of the Alzheimer's disease market from the perspective of treating physicians.

Revealing insights from 332 health care providers, including GPs/FPs, IMs, neurologists, psychiatrists, LTC medical directors and nurse practitioners, fielded via Internet questionnaire in January 2007, GfK Market Measures' 2007 Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease in Long-Term Care Study examines physicians' and nurse practitioners' treatment of Alzheimer's disease in both the SNF and ALF populations.

Reflecting insights from 359 caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients, fielded via Internet questionnaire in June 2007, GfK Market Measures' 2007 Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Study provides a comprehensive analysis of the Alzheimer's disease market from the perspective of patient caregivers.

About GfK Market Measures

GfK Market Measures provides health care clients with a unique mix of custom and syndicated solutions to support the full marketing continuum, including market assessment, brand tracking, sales force effectiveness, health care consumer and product launch applications. GfK Market Measures is a member of the GfK U.S. Healthcare Companies, the largest provider of custom health care marketing research services in the United States.

For further information, please go to:
http://www.gfkmarketmeasures.com.

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