title: The effect of donepezil treatment on cardiovascular mortality.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urbano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diedrich
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil