Anti-allergy drugs could increase dementia risk among elderly: Study

Some antihistamines antiallergy drugs have the potential to raise dementia risk in elderly claimed a new study on WednesdayDementias are estimated to affect more than 574 million people worldwide a number that is expected to almost triple to 1528 million cases by 2050Early signs include memory loss difficulty finding words confusion and changes in mood and behaviourAn analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society revealed that older inpatients admitted by physicians who prescribe higher amounts of firstgeneration antihistamines face an elevated risk of delirium a sudden severe state of confusion while in the hospitalldquoFirstgeneration antihistamines such as diphenhydramine are among the leading causes of medicationrelated harms in older adults and although these medications are indicated for histaminerelated conditions such as hives and anaphylaxis they may be prescribed inappropriatelyrdquo said the researchers from the University of TorontoThe team analysed data on 328140 patients aged 65 years and older who were admitted by 755 attending physicians to 17 hospitals in Ontario Canada in 20152022They found that the overall prevalence of delirium was 348 per cent Patients admitted to physicians who more commonly prescribed firstgeneration antihistamines had 41 per cent increased odds of experiencing delirium compared with patients admitted to physicians who rarely prescribed firstgeneration antihistaminesDelirium which occurs in up to 50 per cent of hospitalised older adults has been associated with major adverse outcomes in older adults including increased mortality and longterm cognitive impairmentWe hope our study raises awareness among hospitalists that sedating antihistamines can be harmful and should be prescribed with caution said corresponding author Aaron M Drucker from the University of Toronto and Womens College HospitalFirstgeneration antihistamines are indicated for histaminemediated conditions such as urticaria and anaphylaxis but may be prescribed inappropriately for nonhistaminemediated pruritic conditions such as typeIV hypersensitivity drug eruptions or nonspecific pruritusEven when prescribed for histaminemediated conditions firstgeneration antihistamines do not have efficacy benefits over nonsedating antihistamines which are associated with fewer harms the team saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever