Cardiovascular Outcomes of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Individuals with Dementia: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Objectives: To evaluate the cardiovascular (CV) effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) in individuals with dementia. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting: Two authors independently searched major electronic databases from inception until June 17, 2017, for longitudinal (without a control group) and cohort (with a control group) studies reporting CV outcomes in relation to AChEIs. Randomized controlled trials were excluded because they included relatively healthy subjects. Participants: Individuals with dementia and controls. Measurements: Changes in CV parameters were summarized using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Even…