Clinical and cost-effectiveness of donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine for Alzheimers disease: a rapid and systematic review

Clegg A, Bryant J, Nicholson T, McIntyre L, De Broe S, Gerard K, Waugh N
Record ID 32001000055
English
Authors' objectives: To provide a rapid and systematic review of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine in the symptomatic treatment of people suffering from Alzheimers disease.
Authors' results and conclusions: Donepezil - three systematic reviews and five RCTs (plus four studies from industry) were found. Results suggest that donepezil is beneficial when assessed using global and cognitive outcome measures. Rivastigmine - three systematic reviews and five RCTs (plus two studies from industry) were found. Results suggest that rivastigmine is beneficial in terms of global outcome measures. Galantamine - one systematic review and three RCTs (plus three studies from industry) were found. Results suggest that galantamine is beneficial in terms of global, cognitive and functional scales.
Authors' recommendations: On the basis of the current evidence, the implications of the use of donepezil, rivastigmine or galantamine to treat patients with Alzheimers disease are unclear. The main issue is whether the modest benefits seen in the outcome measures used in the trials would translate into benefits significant to patients.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.hta.ac.uk/1190
Year Published: 2001
URL for published report: n/a
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Dementia
  • Donepezil
  • Rivastigmine
  • Tacrine
  • Galantamine
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Neuroprotective Agents
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright: 2009 Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
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