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Table 3 Meta-analysis on the effects of pharmacological interventions for people with dementia

From: Cost-effectiveness of pharmacological therapies for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Type of intervention

Effects on health outcomes (Intervention group–Control group) a

n

Cognition

n

Activity functions

n

Global deterioration

n

BPSD

n

Health utility

n

QALY

(01) Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease

 Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

6c

0.561*** (0.277, 0.846)

6c

0.450*** (0.240, 0.661)

3

0.306*** (0.181, 0.432)

4c

0.238* (0.052, 0.424)

1b

− 0.323 (− 0.781, 0.136)

2c

0.341 (− 0.136, 0.818)

 Memantine

2

0.602*** (0.290, 0.914)

2

0.445*** (0.208, 0.682)

1b

0.337 (0.043, 0.631)

1b

0.618 (0.217, 1.019)

1b

0.224 (− 0.170, 0.618)

1b

0.327 (− 0.068, 0.772)

 Propentofylline

1b

0.228 (0.057, 0.398)

1b

0.212 (0.041, 0.382)

1b

0.207 (0.036, 0.377)

0

0

0

 Combination therapy

1b

0.376 (− 0.022, 0.775)

1b

0.118 (− 0.278, 0.513)

0

1b

0.568 (0.166, 0.971)

1b

0.249 (− 0.148, 0.646)

1b

0.092 (− 0.303, 0.488)

(02) Drugs for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia

 Antipsychotics

0

3

− 0.192* (− 0.369, − 0.014)

3

0.189 (− 0.014, 0.392)

0

3

− 0.022 (− 0.225, 0.181)

3

0.020 (− 0.183, 0.223)

 Antidepressants

2

− 0.383* (− 0.762, − 0.003)

2

− 0.242 (− 0.560, 0.076)

0

2

0.035 (− 0.278, 0.347)

2

0.006 (− .368, 0.379)

2

0.378* (0.002, 0.754)

  1. aPositive values indicated better improvements in the health domain in the intervention group compared to the control group
  2. bMeta-synthesis was not performed due to insufficient number of studies, and the result was derived from a single study
  3. cHeterogeneity was detected across studies based on Cochran's Q test (P < 0.10)
  4. *P-value < 0.05; **P-value < 0.01; ***P-value < 0.001