The association between relevant comorbidities and dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation

The role of atrial fibrillation in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and preventive strategies

The aging population in Europe faces a substantial burden from dementia, with vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) being a preventable cause. Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common cardiac arrhythmia, increases the risk of VCID through mechanisms such as thromboembolism, cerebral hypoperfusion, and inflammation. This review explores the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and preventive strategies for AF-related VCID. Epidemiological data indicate that AF prevalence rises with age, affecting up to 12% of individuals over 80. Neuroimaging studies reveal chronic brain changes in AF patients, including strokes, lacunar strokes, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and cerebral microbleeds (CMHs), while cognitive assessments show impairments in memory, executive function, and attention. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the underdiagnosis of AF, leading to an increase in undiagnosed strokes and cognitive impairment. Many elderly individuals did not seek medical care due to fear of exposure, resulting in delayed diagnoses. Additionally, reduced family supervision during the pandemic contributed to missed opportunities for early detection of AF and related complications. Emerging evidence suggests that long COVID may also elevate the risk of AF, further complicating the management of this condition. This review underscores the importance of early detection and comprehensive management of AF to mitigate cognitive decline. Preventive measures, including public awareness campaigns, patient education, and the use of smart devices for early detection, are crucial. Anticoagulation therapy, rate and rhythm control, and addressing comorbid conditions are essential therapeutic strategies. Recognizing and addressing the cardiovascular and cognitive impacts of AF, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential for advancing public health.

Mental health conditions and risk of first-ever ischaemic stroke and death in patients with incident atrial fibrillation: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with mental health conditions (MHCs) have higher incidence of ischaemic stroke (IS) than patients without MHC, but whether this results from direct impact of MHCs or relates to higher prevalence of comorbidities and differences in the use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy is unclear. We assessed the hypothesis that MHCs independently increase the risk of IS in patients with incident AF.

METHODS

The nationwide FinACAF cohort covered all 203,154 patients diagnosed with incident AF without previous IS or transient ischaemic attack in Finland during 2007-2018. MHCs of interest were depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia and any MHC. The outcomes were first-ever IS and all-cause death.

RESULTS

The patients' (mean age 73.0 ± 13.5 years, 49.0% female) mean follow-up time was 4.3 (SD 3.3) years and 16,272 (8.0%) experienced first-ever IS and 63,420 (31.2%) died during follow-up. After propensity score matching and adjusting for OAC use, no MHC group was associated with increased IS risk (adjusted SHRs (95% CI): depression 0.961 (0.857-1.077), bipolar disorder 1.398 (0.947-2.006), anxiety disorder 0.878 (0.718-1.034), schizophrenia 0.803 (0.594-1.085) and any MHC 1.033 (0.985-1.085)). Lower rate of OAC use partly explained the observed higher crude IS incidence in patients with any MHC. Depression, schizophrenia and any MHC were associated with higher all-cause mortality (adjusted HRs [95% CI]: 1.208 [1.136-1.283], 1.543 [1.352-1.761] and 1.149 [1.116-1.175], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, MHCs were not associated with the incidence of first-ever IS in patients with AF.

Rhythm Control Better Prevents Dementia than Rate Control Strategies in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation-A Nationwide Cohort Study

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of dementia. Whether the pharmacological rhythm control of AF can reduce the risk of dementia compared to the rate control strategy remains unclear. We hypothesize that the rhythm control strategy is better than the rate control strategy in preventing dementia. Methods: AF patients aged ≥65 years were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Patients receiving anti-arrhythmic drugs at a cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) of >30 within the first year of enrollment constituted the rhythm control group. Patients who used rate control medications for a cDDD of >30 constituted the rate control group. A multivariate Cox hazards regression model was used to determine the hazard ratio (HR) for dementia. Results: A total of 3382 AF patients (698 in the rhythm control group; 2684 in the rate control group) were analyzed. During a 4.86 ± 3.38 year follow-up period, 414 dementia events occurred. The rhythm control group had a lower rate of dementia than the rate control group (adjust HR: 0.75, p = 0.031). The rhythm control strategy reduced the risk of dementia particularly in those receiving aspirin (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In patients with AF, pharmacological rhythm control was associated with a lower risk of dementia than rate control over a long-term follow-up period, particularly in patients receiving aspirin treatment.

Differential Risk of Dementia Between Patients With Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation: A National Cohort Study

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Atrial flutter (AFL) is also linked to an increased risk of stroke but at a different level of risk as compared to AF. Little is known about the difference in the risk of dementia between AF and AFL. This study aims to investigate whether the risk of dementia is different between AF and AFL.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed AF and AFL during 2001–2013 were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with incomplete demographic data, aged <20 years, history of valvular surgery, rheumatic heart disease, hyperthyroidism, and history of dementia were excluded. The incidence of new-onset dementia was set as the primary outcome and analyzed in patients with AF and AFL after propensity score matching (PSM).

Results: A total of 232,425 and 7,569 patients with AF and AFL, respectively, were eligible for analysis. After 4:1 PSM, we included 30,276 and 7,569 patients with AF and AFL, respectively, for analysis. Additionally, patients with AF (n = 29,187) and AFL (n = 451) who received oral anticoagulants were enrolled for comparison. The risk of dementia was higher in patients with AF compared with patients with AFL (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) = 1.52, 95% CI 1.39–1.66; p < 0.0001) before PSM and remained higher in patients with AF (SHR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.04–1.25; p = 0.0064) after PSM. The risk of dementia was higher in patients with AF without previous history of stroke after PSM but the risk did not differ between patients with AF and AFL with previous history of stroke. Among patients who received oral anticoagulants, the cumulative incidences of dementia were significantly higher in patients with AF than in patients with AFL before and after PSM (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study found that, among patients without history of stroke, the risk of dementia was higher in patients with AF than in patients with AFL, and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score might be useful for risk stratification of dementia between patients with AF and AFL.

Revealing the Influences of Sex Hormones and Sex Differences in Atrial Fibrillation and Vascular Cognitive Impairment

The impacts of sex differences on the biology of various organ systems and the influences of sex hormones on modulating health and disease have become increasingly relevant in clinical and biomedical research. A growing body of evidence has recently suggested fundamental sex differences in cardiovascular and cognitive function, including anatomy, pathophysiology, incidence and age of disease onset, symptoms affecting disease diagnosis, disease severity, progression, and treatment responses and outcomes. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is currently recognized as the most prevalent sustained arrhythmia and might contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), including a range of cognitive deficits, from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. In this review, we describe sex-based differences and sex hormone functions in the physiology of the brain and vasculature and the pathophysiology of disorders therein, with special emphasis on AF and VCI. Deciphering how sex hormones and their receptor signaling (estrogen and androgen receptors) potentially impact on sex differences could help to reveal disease links between AF and VCI and identify therapeutic targets that may lead to potentially novel therapeutic interventions early in the disease course of AF and VCI.

Global Vascular Risk Score and CAIDE Dementia Risk Score Predict Cognitive Function in the Northern Manhattan Study

BACKGROUND

Modifiable vascular risk factors (VRF) have been implicated in cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the prediction of cognitive performance between the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) dementia risk score, a validated tool to estimate dementia risk using VRF, and the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS) global vascular risk score (GVRS), created to predict vascular events.

METHODS

The CAIDE and GVRS scores were calculated based on baseline VRF among 1,290 stroke-free participants in the prospective population-based NOMAS MRI cohort (mean age 64±8 years, 60% women; 66% Hispanic, 17% Black, 15% White; 46% completed high school). Domain-specific Z-scores were derived for episodic and semantic memory, executive function, and processing speed, and averaged to calculate global cognition.

RESULTS

The CAIDE score was associated with worse global cognition at initial assessment (Beta per SD = -0.347, p < 0.0001), and with greater decline over time (Beta per SD = -0.033, p = 0.02). These associations were largely due to age and education, and the association with cognitive decline was not significant after adjusting for age, sex, and education. The GVRS was inversely associated with global cognition at initial testing (Beta per SD = -0.247, p < 0.0001) and greater decline over time (Beta per SD = -0.127, p < 0.0001), which persisted after adjusting for sociodemographics. The associations for both scores with initial cognitive performance were driven by executive function and processing speed, and the GVRS was associated with decline in episodic memory and processing speed.

CONCLUSIONS

The GVRS was a stronger predictor of cognitive decline than the CAIDE in a multi-ethnic urban cohort. The inclusion of glucose and smoking in the GVRS, which are absent in CAIDE, likely explains the better performance of the GVRS.

Sex Difference in the Risk of Dementia in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the risk factors for dementia. Female sex is an inconsistent risk factor for dementia after adjusting for age in the general population, and there lacks research on its impact in developing dementia in patients with AF. This paper aims to investigate whether female sex is a risk factor for dementia in AF patients. Data of patients with newly diagnosed AF between 2001–2013 were retrieved from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. Exclusion criteria were: patients with incomplete demographic data, age < 20 years, rheumatic heart disease, hyperthyroidism, past valvular heart surgery, and a history of dementia. Propensity score matching (PSM) between sexes was performed, including comorbidities, medications and index date stratified by age. The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of dementia at follow-up. A total of 117,517 men and 156,705 women were eligible for analysis. After 1:1 PSM, both 100,065 men and women (aged 72.5 ± 12.5 years) were included for analysis. Dementia risk varied with age in women compared with men. The difference was negligible for ≤55 years (sub distribution HR (SHR) = 0.89, 95% CI 0.73–1.07), but increased between 56–65 years (SHR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02–1.25), 66–75 years (SHR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.20), 75–85 years (SHR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.15) and >85 years (SHR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04–1.16) for females. This study establishes that female sex increases the risk of developing dementia compared to male sex in AF patients aged >56 years. However, the impact of female sex on dementia in AF patients differs between dementia types.

Subanesthetic dose of ketamine for the antidepressant effects and the associated cognitive impairments of electroconvulsive therapy in elderly patients-A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study

OBJECTIVES

We previously confirmed that low-dose ketamine, as an adjunctive anesthetic for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in adult patients with depression, accelerates the effects of ECT and reduces the ECT-induced learning and memory deficits. This study explored the efficacy and safety of low-dose ketamine in elderly patients with depression.

METHODS

Elderly patients with depression (N = 157) were randomly divided into two groups: propofol anesthesia group (group P) and propofol combined with ketamine anesthesia group (group KP). Patients in group KP were given low-dose ketamine (0.3 mg/kg) for each ECT treatment; patients in group P were given the same amount of normal saline. Depressive symptoms and global cognitive functions were assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination, respectively, at baseline, 1 day after the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th ECT sessions, and 1 day after the end of the ECT course. ECT effects of and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

In total, 67 patients in group KP and 70 in group P completed the study. After the ECT, the response and remission rates were 82.09% and 73.13%, respectively, in group KP, and 81.43% and 68.57%, respectively, in group P; there was no statistical difference between groups. However, the incidence of cognitive function impairment was lower in group KP (10.4%) than in group P (25.7%), while different electrical dose and seizure duration were required during the course of treatment between the two groups. There was no difference in the complications of ECT between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose ketamine is safe as an adjunct anesthetic for elderly patients subjected to ECT. It has a protective effect on cognitive function and may accelerate the antidepressant effects of ECT.

The association between sociodemographic characteristics and dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation

Objectives

Association between socio-demographic factors and dementia risk is studied in general but not for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods

We studied AF patients ≥ 45 years in Sweden 1998–2012 (n = 537,513) using the Total Population Register for socio-demographic factors, the Swedish Cause of Death Register, and the National Patient Register (NPR) for incident dementia. Cox regression with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used for the association between exposure and outcome, adjusting for age and comorbidities.

Results

Totally 30,332 patients (5.6%) were diagnosed with dementia during the follow-up (mean 5.4 years). Of these, 14,097 were men (4.9%) and 16,235 were women (6.5%). Lower educational levels (reference: highest level) were associated with increased dementia, HRs (95% CI) for basic school for men 1.23 (1.18–1.29) and women 1.36 (1.30–1.42), and middle-level school for men 1.17 (1.11–1.22) and women 1.28 (1.22–1.34). Divorced men and women (reference: married) showed increased risk of dementia, HR 1.07 (1.01–1.13) and 1.12 (1.06–1.18), respectively, while widowed men showed lower risk, HR 0.84 (0.80–0.88). High deprivation neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES; reference: medium level) was associated with increased dementia in men, HR 1.11 (1.05–1.17), and low deprivation neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES) with increased dementia in men and women, HR 1.12 (1.06–1.18) and 1.18 (1.12–1.24), respectively.

Conclusions

Some results were expected, i.e. association between lower educational level and dementia. The higher risk of dementia in low deprivation NSES-areas could be due to a higher awareness about dementia, and subsequent earlier diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40520-019-01449-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Circulating metabolomics profiling reveals novel pathways associated with cognitive decline in patients with hypertension

Background:

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it is associated with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although it may be correlated with AD in terms of symptoms, the link between hypertension and AD pathological biomarkers, and the potential underlying mechanism of hypertension with cognitive decline, are still not well understood.

Methods:

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were used to evaluate cognitive function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to examine plasma amyloid-beta (Aβ)₄₀, Aβ₄₂, and tau concentration in hypertensive patients. Metabolomics and metagenomics were performed to identify the significantly changed circulating metabolites and microbiota between healthy individuals and hypertensive patients. Pearson’s correlation was used to examine the association between cognitive indicators and differential metabolites.

Results:

We found significantly decreased MMSE scores, elevated plasma Aβ₄₀, and decreased Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ ratio in hypertensive patients, which are critically associated with AD pathology. Based on metabolomics, we found that significantly altered metabolites in the plasma of hypertensive patients were enriched in the benzoate degradation and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, and they were also correlated with changes in MMSE scores and Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ ratio. In addition, metabolomics signaling pathway analysis suggested that microbial metabolism was altered in hypertensive patients. We also identified altered blood microbiota in hypertensive patients compared with the controls.

Conclusions:

Our study provides a novel metabolic and microbial mechanism, which may underlie the cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients.

Effects of cardiovascular pharmacotherapies on incident dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation: A cohort study of all patients above 45 years diagnosed with AF in hospitals in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased dementia risk dementia. We aimed to study the effect of antihypertensive drugs on dementia in AF patients.

METHODS

Included patients were ≥45 years diagnosed with AF in Swedish National Patient Register (n=160,251; 89,723 men and 70,528 women) and alive on January 1, 2007. We excluded patients with dementia before onset of AF. Cox regression was used (hazard ratios, HRs, and 99% confidence interval, CI) with adjustments for sex, age, socioeconomic factors and co-morbidities, using incident dementia diagnosis until December 31, 2015 as outcome. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapies were obtained from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register.

RESULTS

Incident dementia occurred in 9532 patients (5.9%), 4669 men (5.2%) and 4863 women (6.9%). ARBs were associated with lower risk for all patients (HR 0.87, 99% CI 0.78-0.98), especially in the ages 65-84 years of age (HR 0.87, 99% CI 0.76-0.99). Loop-diuretics were associated with higher risk for all dementia among patients 65-84 years of age (HR 1.16, 99% CI 1.00-1.35), and in the sub-group of other causes of dementia than Alzheimer Disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) (HR 1.14, 99% CI 1.00-1.30), but with a lower risk in the sub-group of AD and VaD (HR 0.81, 99% CI 0.68-0.95).

CONCLUSION

ARBs were associated with a decreased incidence of dementia, and loop diuretics with a higher risk in general but lower risk in the AD and VaD sub-group. ARBs could have specific advantages in prevention of dementia, but the results need confirmation in further studies.

The Neuropeptide Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) is Protective in Inflammation and Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage in the Kidney

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic neuropeptide with a widespread distribution throughout the entire body including the urinary system. PACAP exerts protective actions in different injury models related to several organ systems. Its protective effect is mainly based on its antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The present review aims to summarize the effects of PACAP in pathologies associated with inflammation and oxidative stress-induced damage in the kidney. Both in vitro and in vivo data are available proving its protective actions against oxidative stress, hypoxia, renal ischemia/reperfusion, diabetic nephropathy, myeloma kidney injury, amyloidosis and different types of drug-induced nephropathies. Data showing the nephroprotection by PACAP emphasize the potential of PACAP’s therapeutic use in various renal pathologies.

Association Between Relevant Co-Morbidities and Dementia With Atrial Fibrillation-A National Study

BACKGROUND

The risk of dementia is increased in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

OBJECTIVE

To study relevant co-morbidities and incident dementia (vascular dementia, Alzheimers disease, other dementia and all dementia) in AF patients.

METHODS

All adults (n = 537,513) ≥45 years diagnosed with AF in hospitals in Sweden 1998-2012 were included. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs for association between co-morbidities, and incident dementia, after adjustment for age, residence place in Sweden, and socio-economic factors.

RESULTS

Totally 30,332 patients (5.6%) were diagnosed with dementia during the follow-up, with 14,097 men (4.9%) and 16,235 women (6.5%). After adjustments (HRs; 95% CI), hypertension was associated with lower risk of incident dementia (all types) in men (0.79; 0.76-0.82) and women (0.77; 0.74-0.79). Higher risk of dementia was seen in patients with stroke, diabetes, depression and anxiety. Lower risks of dementia were also seen in AF patients with concomitant coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings regarding incident dementia need to be interpreted with great caution, owing to possible "survival bias" or reversed causation. However, the lower associated risks of dementia associated with hypertension could possibly be explained by protective effects of certain antihypertensive drugs.

Effect of Levothyroxine Treatment on Incident Dementia in Adults with Atrial Fibrillation and Hypothyroidism

Background and Objective

The possible adverse or positive effects of levothyroxine treatment among patients with atrial fibrillation have been debated. Atrial fibrillation, levothyroxine treatment, and dementia are common among older adults, yet little is known about the effects of levothyroxine on the development of dementia.

Methods

The study population included all adults (n = 12,057) aged ≥ 45 years with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation at 75 primary care centers in Sweden during 2001–2007 without an earlier recorded dementia diagnosis. Patients with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and levothyroxine prescription (n = 756; 180 men and 576 women), or with a prescription without this diagnosis (n = 415, 100 men and 315 women), were compared to patients without a diagnosis and prescription (n = 10,886). Cox regression was performed, with hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with outcome defined as dementia of all causes until 31 December, 2010.

Results

During a mean 5.7 years (standard deviation 2.4 years) of follow-up, a total of 749 patients with atrial fibrillation (6.2%) were diagnosed with dementia. Women with hypothyroidism and a levothyroxine prescription showed lower hazard ratios (0.61; 0.41–0.90) in adjusted Cox regression models (age, socioeconomic factors, co-morbidity, and warfarin treatment). Levothyroxine prescription without hypothyroidism was non-significant.

Conclusions

We found that women with atrial fibrillation with levothyroxine treatment and hypothyroidism have a lower risk of incident dementia than women with atrial fibrillation without levothyroxine treatment and no hypothyroidism. The results should be confirmed in larger studies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40261-018-0740-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The association between gout and cardiovascular disease in patients with atrial fibrillation

Objective

Gout is a sign of a disturbed metabolism and associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardio-vascular diseases. Our aim was to study associations between gout and cardiovascular co-morbidities in patients with AF.

Methods

The study population included all adults (n=12,283) ≥45 years diagnosed with AF visiting 75 primary care centers in Sweden 2001-2007. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between prevalent gout and cardiovascular co-morbidities. In subsamples we studied incident congestive heart failure (CHF) and ischemic stroke (IS), excluding patients with earlier registered specific diagnosis, using Cox regression (to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs).

Results

Gout was significantly and positively associated with CHF, obesity and diabetes among men and women, and among men also with hypertension and coronary heart disease. Prevalent gout was negatively associated with incident IS (HR and 95% CI: 0.64, 0.49-0.82; 0.50, 0.39-0.64) in both full model (adjusted for sex, age, socio-economic factors and comorbidities) and CHA₂DS₂-VASc model (adjusted for CHA₂DS₂-VASc, sex and age). Adding gout to full model increased Harrell's C by 1% in CHA₂DS₂-VASc model.

Conclusions

In this clinical setting we found gout to be associated with most cardiometabolic diseases except cerebrovascular diseases, and with decreased risk of IS, with gout adding significantly to the predictive value compared to CHA₂DS₂-VASc without gout included.

Antihypertensive drugs and relevant cardiovascular pharmacotherapies and the risk of incident dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia are predominant among the elderly; patients with AF have an increased dementia risk. We aimed to study if prescribed antihypertensive drugs and cardiovascular pharmacotherapies are associated with a lower relative risk of dementia.

METHODS

All included patients were ≥45 years and diagnosed with AF in primary care; 12,096 (6580 men and 5516 women) in Sweden. We excluded patients with a dementia diagnosis before onset of AF. Cox regression was used (hazard ratios, HRs, and 95% confidence interval, CI) with adjustments for sex, age, socioeconomic factors and co-morbidities.

RESULTS

Incident dementia occurred in 750 patients (6.2%) during an average of 5.6 years of follow-up (a total of 69,214 person-years). Patients prescribed thiazides HR 0.81 (95% CI 0.66-0.99) and warfarin HR 0.78 (95% CI 0.66-0.92) had a lower risk of dementia than patients without these drugs. The use of 1-4 of the different antihypertensive drug classes (thiazides, beta blocker, vessel active calcium channel blockers or renin angiotensin aldosterone (RAAS) blockers) were associated with a reduction of incident dementia; HR 0.80 (95% CI 0.64-1.00) for one to two drugs, and HR 0.63 (95% CI 0.46-0.84) for three or four drugs, versus having no prescribed antihypertensive drugs. The combination of a RAAS-blocker and a thiazide was significant, HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.53-0.92), versus not having that particular combination prescribed, while RAAS-blockers or thiazides separately were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Prescribed antihypertensive drugs, including thiazide/RAAS-blocker combination therapy and use of warfarin, were associated with a decreased incidence of dementia.