TORONTO, Sep 30, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Canadian researchers have linked a
common treatment for dementia with a higher risk of hospitalization related to
the heart.
Laura Park-Wyllie and colleagues at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto looked at
the health records of more than 1.4 million older adults in Ontario.
The study, published in PLoS Medicine, showed initiation of cholinesterase
inhibitor therapy -- a common treatment for dementia -- was associated with a
more than doubling of the risk of hospitalization for bradycardia -- a slower
than normal heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute.
An implanted pacemaker and other treatments are used to correct bradycardia and
help the heart maintain an appropriate rate.
The paper is available at:
www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000057
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International