Long-term effectiveness of rivastigmine patch or capsule for mild-to-severe Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of rivastigmine patch or capsule on mild to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
We performed a meta-analysis of 17 studies regarding the treatment effectiveness of rivastigmine patch or capsule on mild-to-severe AD.


RESULTS
Significant difference exists between treatment with rivastigmine patch or capsule and placebo groups (p-value < 0.001). In the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) score evaluation, a negative weighted mean difference (WMD) was observed in overall and mild-moderate groups after rivastigmine treatment. And in ADAS-ADL score evaluation, a positive WMD was observed in overall groups after rivastigmine treatment. Moreover, WMD value is lower in patch administration subgroup compared to that of capsule administration subgroup.


CONCLUSIONS
Rivastigmine treatment shows a positive result of improving the condition of patients with mild-to-severe AD. Patch administration shows a stronger effect on decreasing ADAS-Cog score compared to capsule administration.
a 1 Neurology Department, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, Liaocheng, China.
Jiangli
J
Su
Yang
Y
Liu
Yu
Y
Liu
Liqun
L
Ren
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000068836:Rivastigmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D000068836:Rivastigmine
Alzheimer disease; Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-activities of daily living; Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale; capsule administration; patch administration; rivastigmine; weighted mean difference