Effect of risperidone on serum lipids and cerebrovascular mortality among elderly dementia patients with associated behavioral disturbances.

Background. Concern exists about safety of risperidone in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as cerebrovascular mortality. Our aim is to evaluate the safety of low-dose risperidone in elderly dementia patients with associated behavioral disturbances on glucose, serum lipids and cerebrovascular mortality. Material and methods. Thirty-one patients entered the study. Fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, BMI, waist circumference, and triglycerides were measured at baseline and after 3 months. Mortality was reported after 6 months of starting the study. Risk factors for cerebrovascular disease were reported. A control group with 30 subjects was included. Results. Eighteen women and 13 men were included. Mean age was 80.6 years. After analyzing the different variables no significant differences between baseline and after 3 months of follow-up were found. During the study seven (22.58%) patients died, one from stroke. The most frequent associated cerebrovascular risk factors were smoking history, valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation. Conclusion. In our study, low-dose risperidone administered in patients with behavioral symptoms associated dementia does not affect significantly the lipid profile, fasting glucose, BMI or waist circumference and is not associated with an increased risk for cerebrovascular mortality.