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The Effect of Anticholinergic Medications on People living with Dementia: A Systematic Literature Review.

Dowel, Israt Jahan LU (2022) MPHN40 20221
Social Medicine and Global Health
Abstract
Abstract:
Background:
Dementia is a global public health concern as it causes high dependency of the patients with Dementia
(PwD) on their families and the community. Dementia is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder for the
elderly often associated with many comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney diseases, etc.
which require different medications for treatment. The use of Anticholinergic (AC) medication is common
among People living with Dementia (PwD). The current Systematic Literature review aims to compile the
evidence on the worst outcome of AC medication’s adverse effects on PwD.
Method:
A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar from
January 1,... (More)
Abstract:
Background:
Dementia is a global public health concern as it causes high dependency of the patients with Dementia
(PwD) on their families and the community. Dementia is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder for the
elderly often associated with many comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney diseases, etc.
which require different medications for treatment. The use of Anticholinergic (AC) medication is common
among People living with Dementia (PwD). The current Systematic Literature review aims to compile the
evidence on the worst outcome of AC medication’s adverse effects on PwD.
Method:
A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar from
January 1, 2000, to January 31, 2022. "The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) guideline and population, exposure, control, outcomes, and setting (PECOS)
inclusion and exclusion criteria have been followed to include studies for full-text review. EndNote and
Covidence software was used for the selection of studies and the extraction of data from the selected studies.
The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was followed to judge the quality of the included studies.
Result:
The primary database search identified 532 articles, and after removing duplicates, 377 articles have been
included for screening. After screening and full-text review, 15 articles have been included for data
extraction. The mortality rate due to adverse effects of AC medication was found to be higher; the adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) ranges from 1.09 to 1.23. Additionally, the outcome of hospitalization was increased
with simultaneous use of more than one AC medication. Other outcomes such as Mortality, Hospitalization,
and Cognitive impairments showed the negative contribution of the AC. However, eleven out of fifteen
studies meet the high-quality study criteria of The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS).
Conclusion: AC medication is associated with an increased rate of mortality, cognitive impairment, and
hospitalization among PwD. Therefore, health care professionals need to be cautious while prescribing AC
for PWD. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dowel, Israt Jahan LU
supervisor
organization
course
MPHN40 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
"Dementia" "Alzheimer's" "Anticholinergic medications" "outcome"
language
English
id
9093508
date added to LUP
2022-06-29 15:14:34
date last changed
2022-06-29 15:14:34
@misc{9093508,
  abstract     = {{Abstract:
Background: 
Dementia is a global public health concern as it causes high dependency of the patients with Dementia 
(PwD) on their families and the community. Dementia is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder for the 
elderly often associated with many comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney diseases, etc. 
which require different medications for treatment. The use of Anticholinergic (AC) medication is common 
among People living with Dementia (PwD). The current Systematic Literature review aims to compile the 
evidence on the worst outcome of AC medication’s adverse effects on PwD. 
Method: 
A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar from 
January 1, 2000, to January 31, 2022. "The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) guideline and population, exposure, control, outcomes, and setting (PECOS) 
inclusion and exclusion criteria have been followed to include studies for full-text review. EndNote and 
Covidence software was used for the selection of studies and the extraction of data from the selected studies. 
The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was followed to judge the quality of the included studies. 
Result: 
The primary database search identified 532 articles, and after removing duplicates, 377 articles have been 
included for screening. After screening and full-text review, 15 articles have been included for data 
extraction. The mortality rate due to adverse effects of AC medication was found to be higher; the adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) ranges from 1.09 to 1.23. Additionally, the outcome of hospitalization was increased 
with simultaneous use of more than one AC medication. Other outcomes such as Mortality, Hospitalization, 
and Cognitive impairments showed the negative contribution of the AC. However, eleven out of fifteen 
studies meet the high-quality study criteria of The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). 
Conclusion: AC medication is associated with an increased rate of mortality, cognitive impairment, and 
hospitalization among PwD. Therefore, health care professionals need to be cautious while prescribing AC 
for PWD.}},
  author       = {{Dowel, Israt Jahan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Effect of Anticholinergic Medications on People living with Dementia: A Systematic Literature Review.}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}