Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice

Abstract Introduction Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Clinical trials have focused on placebo comparisons, inadequately addressing within‐class comparative safety. Methods New users of ChEIs in British Columbi...

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Main Authors: Greg Carney, Ken Bassett, James M. Wright, Malcolm Maclure, Nicolette McGuire, Colin R. Dormuth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trci.2019.09.011
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author Greg Carney
Ken Bassett
James M. Wright
Malcolm Maclure
Nicolette McGuire
Colin R. Dormuth
author_facet Greg Carney
Ken Bassett
James M. Wright
Malcolm Maclure
Nicolette McGuire
Colin R. Dormuth
author_sort Greg Carney
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Clinical trials have focused on placebo comparisons, inadequately addressing within‐class comparative safety. Methods New users of ChEIs in British Columbia were categorized into five study cohorts: low‐dose donepezil, high‐dose donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine patch, and oral rivastigmine. Comparative safety of ChEIs assessed hazard ratios using propensity score adjusted Cox regression. Results Compared with low‐dose donepezil, galantamine use was associated with a lower risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.60–1.18), cardiovascular serious adverse events (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.62–0.98), and entry into a residential care facility (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.59–0.89). Discussion Given the absence of randomized trial data showing clinically meaningful benefit of ChEI therapy in Alzheimer's disease, our study suggests preferential use of galantamine may at least be associated with fewer adverse events than treatment with donepezil or rivastigmine.
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series Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
spelling doaj-art-ea71b9cc00a44930aec4afd955327d9e2025-08-20T03:22:00ZengWileyAlzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions2352-87372019-01-015173273910.1016/j.trci.2019.09.011Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practiceGreg Carney0Ken Bassett1James M. Wright2Malcolm Maclure3Nicolette McGuire4Colin R. Dormuth5Therapeutics InitiativeUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanadaTherapeutics InitiativeUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanadaTherapeutics InitiativeUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanadaTherapeutics InitiativeUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanadaResearch and Innovation Division, B.C. Ministry of HealthVictoriaBCCanadaTherapeutics InitiativeUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanadaAbstract Introduction Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Clinical trials have focused on placebo comparisons, inadequately addressing within‐class comparative safety. Methods New users of ChEIs in British Columbia were categorized into five study cohorts: low‐dose donepezil, high‐dose donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine patch, and oral rivastigmine. Comparative safety of ChEIs assessed hazard ratios using propensity score adjusted Cox regression. Results Compared with low‐dose donepezil, galantamine use was associated with a lower risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.60–1.18), cardiovascular serious adverse events (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.62–0.98), and entry into a residential care facility (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.59–0.89). Discussion Given the absence of randomized trial data showing clinically meaningful benefit of ChEI therapy in Alzheimer's disease, our study suggests preferential use of galantamine may at least be associated with fewer adverse events than treatment with donepezil or rivastigmine.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trci.2019.09.011Cholinesterase inhibitorAlzheimer's diseaseDementiaLog‐binomial regressionCox proportional hazardPropensity score
spellingShingle Greg Carney
Ken Bassett
James M. Wright
Malcolm Maclure
Nicolette McGuire
Colin R. Dormuth
Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice
Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Cholinesterase inhibitor
Alzheimer's disease
Dementia
Log‐binomial regression
Cox proportional hazard
Propensity score
title Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice
title_full Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice
title_fullStr Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice
title_short Comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real‐world practice
title_sort comparison of cholinesterase inhibitor safety in real world practice
topic Cholinesterase inhibitor
Alzheimer's disease
Dementia
Log‐binomial regression
Cox proportional hazard
Propensity score
url https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trci.2019.09.011
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AT malcolmmaclure comparisonofcholinesteraseinhibitorsafetyinrealworldpractice
AT nicolettemcguire comparisonofcholinesteraseinhibitorsafetyinrealworldpractice
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