Alzheimer's disease medication and risk of all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Identifying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pharmacologic treatment options that effectively reduce the risk of mortality and hospitalization in real-world settings is critical. METHODS: We compared donepezil, galantamine, memantine, oral rivastigmine, and transdermal rivastigmine with regard to all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization risk among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with AD (aged ≥ 65 years) using a retrospective cohort study design. Our primary analysis was based on intention to treat (ITT), but we also present as-treated analysis. RESULTS: In our final study sample (N = 21,558), significant difference in survival among index AD medication groups were observed with donepezil being associated with better survival than memantine, and oral and transdermal forms of rivastigmine for both ITT and as-treated analysis. Difference in hazards of all-cause hospitalization among index AD medication groups was observed in ITT analysis but not in as-treated analysis. DISCUSSION: Significant differences exist in terms of mortality and hospitalization risk with different AD medication initiation in real-world setting.