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.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Alzheimer Disease / complications
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Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
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Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
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Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy*
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Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Cohort Studies
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Dementia, Vascular / complications
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Dementia, Vascular / drug therapy*
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Donepezil
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Indans / adverse effects
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Indans / pharmacology*
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Indans / therapeutic use
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Male
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Nootropic Agents / adverse effects
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Nootropic Agents / pharmacology
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Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use
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Piperidines / adverse effects
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Piperidines / pharmacology*
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Piperidines / therapeutic use
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Proportional Hazards Models
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Retrospective Studies
Substances
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors
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Indans
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Nootropic Agents
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Piperidines
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Donepezil