The effect of donepezil treatment on cardiovascular mortality.
The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil hydrochloride improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Given acetylcholine's important actions on the heart, we undertook a retrospective cohort investigation to assess whether donepezil usage affects cardiovascular mortality. In patients treated with donepezil, hazard ratios for total and cardiovascular mortality were 0.68 (P = 0.045, 95% confidence interval 0.46-0.99) and 0.54 (P = 0.042, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.98), respectively. The apparent survival benefit in donepezil-treated patients should not be overinterpreted. Prospective clinical trials are warranted.
Sato
K
K
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Urbano
R
R
Yu
C
C
Yamasaki
F
F
Sato
T
T
Jordan
J
J
Robertson
D
D
Diedrich
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077265:Donepezil; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil