Now a new study presented at the EHRA 2025 congress, organised by the European Society of Cardiology, has raised some alarm bells. It does indicate the possibility of an important association between the use of antidepressants and risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Study’s first author Mujkanovic Shebel said that the findings stress a very important association between antidepressant use and cardiovascular risks.
Their study concluded that people taking antidepressants—including SSRIs like sertraline—had a 56% increased risk of experiencing SCD. People who don’t use these drugs have a much higher risk. The risk seems to increase with longer use. Mujkanovic noted that patients who used antidepressants for six years or more exhibited a fivefold increase in SCD risk, while those using them for one to five years faced a threefold increase, particularly among participants aged 30 to 39.
Mujkanovic went on to highlight the negative side effects of antidepressants, mainly focusing on their link to causing QT prolongation. This disruption in cardiac rhythm may cause severe arrhythmic events and, in infrequent cases, SCD. History indicates a stark and direct association between specific marketed antidepressants and increased cardiovascular risks. This new finding highlights the need for extra care and consideration in the prescribing of these medications.
The study found differences in risk by age and length of time the person used the medication. Mujkanovic noted that increased duration of exposure to antidepressants was associated with an increased risk of SCD. He emphasized that we need to interpret these findings with caution. In addition to being an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, depression has been clinically linked with sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Mujkanovic understood the complexity of the issue. Representatively, he stated that while antidepressants may increase risk of SCD, it is necessary to weigh each patient’s overall mental health condition. Given the widespread negative impact of depression on overall health, this could further complicate the relationship between antidepressant use and increased cardiovascular risks.
The implications of this research are profound, especially for the health care professionals who are prescribing these drugs. These results underscore an immediate demand for further studies. We need to determine ways for antidepressants to play a role in reducing SCD risk. Mujkanovic noted a need for more studies to investigate this connection so that clinical practices and patient care can be better informed through research.
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