Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

Pharmacological treatments for vascular dementia: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

  • 2024-08-22
  • Frontiers in pharmacology 15
    • Chun Dang
    • Qinxuan Wang
    • Yijia Zhuang
    • Qian Li
    • Li Feng
    • Ying Xiong
    • Yaoheng Lu

Study Design

Type
Systematic Review
Sample size
n = 194
Population
adult patients with VaD
Methods
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of 194 RCTs comparing 21 anti-VaD drugs with placebo or no treatment

Background

Vascular dementia (VaD) is one of the most prevalent, burdensome, and costly forms of dementia. Pharmacological treatment is often the first-line choice for clinicians; however, there is a paucity of comparative information regarding the multiple available drug options.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted on randomized trials involving adult patients with VaD, sourced from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, OPENGREY, ClinicalTrials.gov, Wanfang Data, and CNKI. The primary outcomes included changes in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, activities of daily living (ADL) scores, and the incidence of adverse reactions. Efficacy and safety of intervention strategies were comprehensively analyzed using forest plots, cumulative ranking probability curves (SUCRA), and funnel plots, all generated with R software.

Results

A total of 194 RCTs comparing 21 different anti-VaD drugs with placebos or no treatment were analysed. Regarding MMSE scores, the five most effective drugs were Butylphthalide, Huperzine A, Edaravone, Rivastigmine, and Memantine. For ADL scores, the top five drugs in efficacy were Huperzine A, Butylphthalide, Tianzhi granule, Nicergoline, and Idebenone. In terms of the incidence of adverse drug reactions, Co-dergocrine Mesylate, Tongxinluo capsule, Butylphthalide, Piracetam, and Oxiracetam demonstrated favourable safety profiles.

Conclusion

This study enhances the understanding of the relative benefits and risks associated with various VaD treatments, providing a valuable reference for clinical decision-making.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier registration number.

Research Insights

Back to top