Data from: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use in older adults decreases risk of Alzheimer’s disease mortality

Alzheimer disease (AD) mortality risk in a large cohort of subjects
treated or not with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is
unknown. Our objective was to determine whether NSAIDs use is associated
with decreased risk of AD mortality. Methods: In this prospective,
population-based study (Neurological Disorders in Central Spain [NEDICES])
of 5,072 people without AD (aged 65 years and older), sociodemographic,
comorbidity factors, and current medications were recorded at baseline.
Community-dwelling older adults were followed for a median of 12.7 years,
after which the death certificates of deceased participants were examined.
2,672 (52.7%) of 5,072 participants died, including 504 (18.9%) NSAIDs
users and 2,168 (81.1%) non-users. Of the 2,672 deceased participants, 113
(4.2%) had AD as a cause of death (8 [1.6%] among NSAIDs users and 105
[4.8%] among non-users, chi-square = 10.70, p=0.001). In an unadjusted Cox
model, risk of AD mortality was decreased in NSAIDs users (hazard ratio
[HR] for AD mortality = 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17–0.72,
p=0.004) when compared to non-users. After adjusting for numerous
demographic factors and co-morbidities, the HR for AD mortality in NSAIDs
users was 0.29, 95% CI 0.12–0.73, p=0.009. Stratified analyses showed a
significantly decreased risk of AD mortality with aspirin, whereas
non-aspirin NSAIDs only showed a statistical trend toward significance in
the adjusted Cox regression models. NSAIDs use was associated with 71%
decreased risk of AD mortality in older adults. Our results support the
hypothesis that NSAIDs use is a protective factor of developing AD.