Sudden Cardiac Death: Risk from Antidepressants Greater Than Thought
A Danish study, presented at the European Congress of Heart Rhythm Specialists (EHRA) in Vienna, is attracting attention: Long-term use of antidepressants is associated with a significantly increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Particularly at risk are individuals who take these medications for a period of more than six years.
The analysis presented at the conference is based on all deaths in Denmark in 2010. The data of 45,701 deceased individuals between the ages of 18 and 90 were examined – including 6,002 cases of sudden cardiac death. In 1,981 of these cases, there was prior use of antidepressants.
Duration of Antidepressant Use as a Decisive Risk Factor
According to Jasmin Mujkanovic from the Copenhagen University Hospital, who led the study, a generally increased risk of sudden cardiac death in people with depression has been identified – however, the influence of the duration of antidepressant use was previously unknown. The results now presented suggest: The longer the use, the greater the risk.
For a duration of use between one to five years, the risk of sudden cardiac death was increased by 56 percent. For more than six years, this risk even doubled (plus 117 percent) compared to the general population without antidepressant treatment.
Increasing Risk with Age
Particularly significant was the increase in risk in the age group of 50 to 59-year-olds, where the danger increased by 100 percent with over six years of intake compared to a treatment duration of one to five years. However, even in older age groups, a significantly increased risk remained – for those aged 70 to 79, it was still at plus 20 percent.
In the youngest age group (18 to 29 years), however, no significant increase in risk could be detected.
Causes of increased risk not yet clarified
The authors of the study point out that the causes of the increased risk are still unclear. Both direct effects of the medications on the heart and lifestyle factors and comorbidities could play a role. Mujkanovic emphasizes: “Those who took antidepressants for six years or longer had a higher risk than those who used them for only one to five years – compared to people without antidepressant treatment.”
Despite the alarming numbers, the researchers emphasize the importance of antidepressants for many patients with severe mental illnesses. Further investigations are necessary to better understand the mechanisms.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.