Donepezil decreases heart rate in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Zhengping Pu1, Wenjie Xu2, Yong Lin1, Juanhui Shen3, Yunying Sun4
1 Department of Psychiatry, Kangci Hospital of Jiaxing, 2 Department of Internal Medicine, 3 rd People’s Hospital of Tongxiang, 3 Department of Internal Medicine, 2 nd People’s Hospital of Tongxiang, Tongxiang, and 4 Department of Internal Medicine, People’s Hospital of Haining, Haining, China
DOI 10.5414/CP203257
Abstract
Objective: Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChI) that improves cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. However, AChIs are usually associated with peripheral adverse reactions. Here, we investigated the cardiac outcomes in elderly AD patients treated with donepezil. Materials and methods: A total of 82 AD patients (age, 75.47 ± 6.53 years) received 5 mg or 10 mg donepezil (n = 41/group) once daily for 12 weeks. Next, we examined the heart rate (HR), cardiac rhythm, and PR, QRS, and QTc intervals. Results: Compared to the 5-mg donepezil-treated group, the HR was slower in the 10-mg donepezil-treated group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of treatment (p = 0.041, 0.026, 0.008, respectively). The PR interval was longer in the 10-mg donepezil-treated group at the 12th week of treatment (p = 0.022). Compared to the pretreatment values, the post-treatment HR and PR interval in the 10-mg donepezil-treated group were significantly slower and longer, respectively (p = 0.002, p = 0.005). Further, the HR was significantly correlated to the donepezil dosage (p = 0.014). Similarly, donepezil dosage and treatment interval were significantly correlated (p = 0.048). Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that 10 mg donepezil decreased the HR of elderly AD patients without inducing severe cardiac outcomes. Therefore, AD patients receiving donepezil should undergo regular cardiovascular monitoring.
Author Details
Authors
Departments
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Kangci Hospital of Jiaxing,
- 2 Department of Internal Medicine,
- 3 rd People’s Hospital of Tongxiang,
- 3 Department of Internal Medicine,
- 2 nd People’s Hospital of Tongxiang, Tongxiang, and
- 4 Department of Internal Medicine, People’s Hospital of Haining, Haining, China
Address
Dr. Yong Lin,
Department of
Psychiatry
Kangci Hospital of Jiaxing
No. 3118 Huancheng North Road
Tongxiang 314500, Zhejiang, China
Email:
[email protected]
Citation
Zhengping Pu, Wenjie Xu, Yong Lin, Juanhui Shen, and Yunying Sun.Donepezil decreases heart rate in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease. 2019; 57: 94-100. doi: 10.5414/CP203257.
