Jessica E Lockery1, Jonathan C Broder2, Joanne Ryan2, Ashley C Stewart2, Robyn L Woods2, Trevor T-J Chong3, Geoffrey C Cloud4, Anne Murray5,6, Jason D Rigby2, Raj Shah7, Elsdon Storey2, Stephanie A Ward2,8, Rory Wolfe2, Christopher M Reid2,9, Taya A Collyer2, Michael E Ernst10. 1. Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, ASPREE Co-ordinating Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. jessica.lockery@monash.edu. 2. Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, ASPREE Co-ordinating Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3. Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 4. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 5. Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 6. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 7. Department of Family Medicine and Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. 8. Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 9. School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia. 10. Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy and Department of Family Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anticholinergic medications may increase risk of dementia and stroke, but prospective studies in healthy older people are lacking. OBJECTIVE: Compare risk of incident dementia and stroke by anticholinergic burden among initially healthy older people. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Primary care (Australia and USA). PARTICIPANTS: 19,114 community-dwelling participants recruited for the ASPREE trial, aged 70+ years (65+ if US minorities) without major cardiovascular disease, dementia diagnosis, or Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score below 78/100. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline anticholinergic exposure was calculated using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score. Dementia was adjudicated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders volume IV criteria, and stroke using the World Health Organization definition. RESULTS: At baseline, 15,000 participants (79%) had an ACB score of zero, 2930 (15%) a score of 1-2, and 1184 (6%) a score of ≥ 3 (indicating higher burden). After a median follow-up of 4.7 years and adjusting for baseline covariates, a baseline ACB score of ≥ 3 was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.06, 2.35), or dementia (adjusted HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01, 1.82), especially of mixed etiology (adjusted HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06, 2.21). Results were similar for those exposed to moderate/highly anticholinergic medications. LIMITATIONS: Residual confounding and reverse causality are possible. Assessment of dose or duration was not possible. CONCLUSIONS: High anticholinergic burden in initially healthy older people was associated with increased risk of incident dementia and ischemic stroke. A vascular effect may underlie this association. These findings highlight the importance of minimizing anticholinergic exposure in healthy older people.
BACKGROUND: Anticholinergic medications may increase risk of dementia and stroke, but prospective studies in healthy older people are lacking. OBJECTIVE: Compare risk of incident dementia and stroke by anticholinergic burden among initially healthy older people. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Primary care (Australia and USA). PARTICIPANTS: 19,114 community-dwelling participants recruited for the ASPREE trial, aged 70+ years (65+ if US minorities) without major cardiovascular disease, dementia diagnosis, or Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score below 78/100. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline anticholinergic exposure was calculated using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score. Dementia was adjudicated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders volume IV criteria, and stroke using the World Health Organization definition. RESULTS: At baseline, 15,000 participants (79%) had an ACB score of zero, 2930 (15%) a score of 1-2, and 1184 (6%) a score of ≥ 3 (indicating higher burden). After a median follow-up of 4.7 years and adjusting for baseline covariates, a baseline ACB score of ≥ 3 was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.06, 2.35), or dementia (adjusted HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01, 1.82), especially of mixed etiology (adjusted HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06, 2.21). Results were similar for those exposed to moderate/highly anticholinergic medications. LIMITATIONS: Residual confounding and reverse causality are possible. Assessment of dose or duration was not possible. CONCLUSIONS: High anticholinergic burden in initially healthy older people was associated with increased risk of incident dementia and ischemic stroke. A vascular effect may underlie this association. These findings highlight the importance of minimizing anticholinergic exposure in healthy older people.
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