Paracetamol to enhance quality of life and daily function and to decrease care dependency in advanced dementia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in long-term care facilities.

Undiagnosed and untreated pain is a serious and frequent problem in persons with advanced dementia, leading to behavioural problems. Although pain is difficult to assess in persons with advanced dementia, the impact on quality of life (QoL) is believed to be huge. In addition, recent studies suggest that pain also has a negative impact on the course of activities of daily living (ADL) function.

Aim

This study investigated whether paracetamol (acetaminophen) could improve quality of life, ADL functioning, care dependency, pain and behavior of nursing home residents with dementia.

The study took place between January 2018 and June 2019. All 95 participants received paracetamol and placebo. Participants received orally administered paracetamol (or placebo, if they are randomised into starting placebo first) at a daily dose of 3 g for four weeks (3 x 2 tablets of 500 mg each), followed by administration of 2.5 g/day for two weeks. Two treatment periods of six weeks, separated by a washout period of 7 days. Participants, nursing staff, physicians, investigators and research nurses are blinded to treatment.

Results

The study found that compared to placebo, paracetamol had no positive effect on quality of life, ADL functioning, care dependency, pain and behavior problems in persons with dementia. However, some persons clearly benefited from paracetamol. It is therefore interesting to find out more specifically which persons with dementia could benefit from treatment with paracetamol.

Trial register: https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NTR6766.

Articles and news

Does paracetamol improve quality of life, discomfort, pain and neuropsychiatric…
Quality of life and paracetamol in advanced dementia (Q-PID): protocol of a ran…

Products

Title: Onderzoek verbeteren kwaliteit van leven van mensen met dementie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Q-PID sessie. Werkt paracetamol bij vergevorderde dementie
Author: Paulien H. van Dam
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF1fVhrxD-A
Title: Werkt paracetamol bij gevorderde dementie?
Author: Paulien van Dam en UNC-ZH
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkUSWff9Qe4
Title: Quality of life and Paracetamol In advanced Dementia (Q-PID): Protocol of a Randomized Double Blind Placebo-controlled Cross-over Trial.
Author: van Dam PH, Achterberg WP, Gussekloo J, Husebø BS, Caljouw MAA
Title: Capita Selecta Spiegelbijeenkomst Radicaal vernieuwend onderwijs. Kwaliteit van leven en pijn bij dementie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Resultaten en implicaties van de Q-PID studie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Kwaliteit van leven en paracetamol gebruik bij gevorderde dementie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Wereld Alzheimerdag lezing: pijn bij dementie: resultaten en imnplicaties van de Q-PID studie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Does paracetamol improve quality of life, discomfort, functioning, care dependency, pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with advanced dementia?
Author: Van Dam PH, Achterberg WP, Husebo BS, Caljouw MAA
Title: Wat is het effect van paracetamol?
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Tips en tricks voor gerandomiseerde studies in het Verpleeghuis.
Author: Caljouw MAA, Dam PH van
Title: Effect of Paracetamol on Quality of Life, Wellbeing, Pain and Neuropsychiatric Problems of Persons with Advanced Dementia living in Long-Term Care Facilities: a Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.
Author: Van Dam PH, Achterberg WP, Husebo, BS, Caljouw MAA
Title: Kwaliteit van leven en paracetamol bij mensen met gevorderde dementie (Q-PID-studie).
Author: Caljouw MAA, van Dam PH
Title: Quality of life and Paracetamol In advanced Dementia (Q-PID): Protocol of a Randomized Double Blind Placebo-controlled Cross-over Trial.
Author: van Dam PH, Achterberg WP, Gussekloo J, Husebø BS, Caljouw MAA
Title: Gedragsproblemen bij dementie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Pain Medication Use and Quality of Life in Persons with Advanced Dementia.
Author: van Dam PH, Caljouw MAA, Slettebø DD, Aasmulb I, Husebø BS, Achterberg WP
Title: Resultaten en implicaties Q-PID studie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Gedragsproblemen bij dementie
Author: van Dam PH
Title: presentatie Q-PID onderzoek
Author: van Dam PH
Title: Does paracetamol improve quality of life, discomfort, pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with advanced dementia living in long-term care facilities? A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover (Q-PID) trial.
Author: P.H. van Dam, W.P. Achterberg, B.S. Husebo, M.A.A. Caljouw
Magazine: BMC Medicine
Title: Quality of life and paracetamol in advanced dementia (Q-PID): protocol of a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial
Author: van Dam, Paulien H., Achterberg, Wilco P., Gussekloo, Jacobijn, Husebo, Bettina S., Caljouw, Monique A. A.
Magazine: BMC Geriatrics
Title: Jan Stoopprijs voor artikel: ' Quality of Life and Pain Medication Use in Persons With Advanced Dementia Living in Long Term Care Facilities'

Subjects

Elderly
Dementia
Drugs
Quality of life
Misunderstood behaviour
Nursing and care

Features

Project number:
839120006
Duration: 100%
2016
2023
Related funding round:
Ouderengeneeskunde 2015
Project lead and secretary:
dr. M.A.A. Caljouw
Responsible organisation:
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum

Elderly Medicine Research

To meet the changing care demand in the future, we need to improve the quality of elderly medicine. We therefore support academicization by funding PhD research projects for elderly medicine physicians training to become clinical researchers, and leave them with an abiding interest in research. Learn more about our ‘General Practice and Elderly Medicine Research’ Programme.