Search

Objectives To investigate the association between use of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs and incidence of stroke in patients with and without dementia. Design Self controlled case series. ¦Setting UK based electronic primary care records in the general practice research database (GPRD). Participants All patients registered in the database with a recorded incident stroke and at least one prescription for any antipsychotic drug before the end of 2002: 6790 eligible participants were identified and included in the final analysis. Main outcome measures Rate ratio for stroke in periods of time exposed to antipsychotics compared with unexposed periods. Results Use of any antipsychotic drug was associated with a rate ratio for stroke of 1.73 (95% confidence interval 1.60 to 1.87): 1.69 (1.55 to 1.84) fortypical antipsychotics and 2.32 (1.73 to 3.10) for atypical antipsychotics. In patients receiving any antipsychotic drug, the rate ratios were 3.50 (2.97 to A.12) forthose with dementia and 1.41 (1.29 to 1.55) forthose without dementia. Conclusions All antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of stroke, and the risk might be higher in patients receiving atypical antipsychotics than those receiving typical antipsychotics. People with dementia seem to be at a higher risk of an associated stroke than people without dementia and use of antipsychotics should, when possible, be avoided in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents news items related to medicine. Reports in "AIDS Care" found that HIV testing in Vietnam seems to be more acceptable when it comes under the qualification of routine blood tests that are carried out in clinics or a state hospital. Research reported in "Pediatrics" found that multiple courses of oral steroids given to asthmatic children over the course of several years can produce a dose dependent reduction in bone mineral density and a greater risk of osteopenia in boys. Research found in "Stroke" indicates that depression in old age may increase the risk of stroke.

Reports on the discovery of the risk of hemorrhagic stroke among women who take medications containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA). Vote of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban PPA in non-prescription decongestants and appetite suppressants; Details of proprietary medicines that contain PPA; Design of the case-control study in which the risk of stroke was found.