Changes in vitamin E prescribing for Alzheimer patients

Maurice W. Dysken, Laura Nelson Kirk, Michael Kuskowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: At the end of 2006, a survey was sent to members of the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) to assess possible changes in prescribing Vitamin E to patients with Alzheimer disease that followed two published reports in early 2005 suggesting increased mortality and an increased incidence of heart failure with Vitamin E supplements. METHOD: A three-item questionnaire was mailed to all AAGP members who had prescription privileges to assess changes in prescribing Vitamin E after January, 2005. RESULTS: A total of 572 completed surveys were returned for a response rate of 35%. Nearly 60% of respondents reported a change over the 2 years that followed the 2005 reports. The greatest change was in the group not prescribing Vitamin E, which increased from 6.6% before 2005 to 60.6% afterward. CONCLUSIONS: AAGP members significantly reduced prescribing Vitamin E to patients with Alzheimer disease after 2005. The two reports are discussed with an emphasis on their methodological limitations and the potential for additional information on Vitamin E side effects from ongoing research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)621-624
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume17
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alzheimer disease
  • Heart failure
  • Mortality
  • Vitamin E

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