Starting a conventional antipsychotic increases risk of death more than an atypical antipsychotic in elderly people with dementia.

摘要

Question: Are conventional antipsychotics associated with similar rates of cause specific death as atypical antipsychotics in elderly people with dementia?People: 37 241 people (>=65 years) who filled a prescription for an antipsychotic for the first time (index prescription) between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2004, including 12 882 people starting conventional and 24 359 starting atypical antipsychotics. Data were acquired from a comprehensive healthcare utilisation database that recorded inpatient and outpatient information and pharmacy dispensing for all people coming into contact with the health service during the study period. Exclusion criteria: diagnosis of cancer within 12 months prior to the index prescription; antipsychotic prescription filled within 12 months prior to the index prescription. Setting: General population, British Columbia, Canada; 1996 to 2004.