The Use of Pramipexole and Other Dopamine Agonists and the Risks of Heart Failure and Pneumonia

The Use of Pramipexole and Other Dopamine Agonists and the Risks of Heart Failure and Pneumonia

Study to assess the risk of incident heart failure associated with the use of pramipexole compared with other dopamine agonists and additionally, to assess the risk of incident heart failure associated with the use of dopamine agonists in comparison with no use of dopamine agonist therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients between 40 and 89 years of age who received at least one prescription for anti-parkinsonian drugs during the period 1997-2009

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a diagnosis of heart failure or with prescriptions for two or more among the digitalis, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and diuretic drug classes prior to cohort entry