Lower mortality in geriatric patients receiving risperidone and olanzapine versus haloperidol: preliminary analysis of retrospective data.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the mortality rate in geriatric patients receiving either haloperidol or atypical antipsychotics.


METHODS
Authors tracked mortality over a 2-year period in patients age 65 years or older receiving haloperidol (N=299) or the atypical antipsychotics risperidone or olanzapine (N= 1,254).


RESULTS
Sixty-four patients in the haloperidol group (21.4%) and 61 patients in the atypical group (4.75%) died during the 2-year study period. The difference was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that mortality in elderly patients receiving haloperidol is significantly higher than in those receiving the atypical antipsychotics risperidone or olanzapine. Authors discuss possible causal mechanisms.
Nasrallah
Henry A
HA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA. henry.nasrallah@uc.edu
White
Thantween
T
Nasrallah
Amelia T
AT
D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine