Table 1.

Factors increasing antipsychotic-related mortality

Male sex [24]

Younger age at dementia diagnosis [24]

Severe dementia symptoms [24]

Robust build (low Frailty Index scores)a [49]

Number of co-morbid somatic conditions (cardiovascular, cancer, infection, diabetes, epilepsy, lower respiratory disease and others) [24, 38]

Co-morbid psychiatric conditions (psychosis, affective disorders, substance misuse, history of self-harm, and others)[24]

Depression co-morbid with agitation or psychosis was associated with lower mortality in risperidone monotherapy [44]

Polypharmacotherapy and drug interactions

– Anti-inflammatory medications, diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium-blockers, antidepressants, opioids, sedative agents, carbamazepine—all-cause/unspecified mortality [24, 44, 45]

– Antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs and antidiabetics including insulin—cardiovascular mortality (protective for death from cancer and infections) [24]

^aBased on a retrospective cohort study with potential limitations [49]

ACE-inhibitor angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, FGA first-generation antipsychotic, SGA second-generation antipsychotic