Antipsychotics linked to increased mortality risk for patients with dementia
Pre-existing comorbidities also raise risk, but the effect of the drugs is independent of this, researchers say
Patients with dementia have a 35% increased risk of death within six months of being prescribed an antipsychotic drug than those not using the drugs, a study confirms.
Findings from a large registry study also suggest a higher rate of mortality in patients with dementia and comorbid cardiovascular disease or diabetes who initiate antipsychotics, but the relative risks are not additive, researchers have found.
