Extended Antidepressant Use Associated with Increased Sudden Cardiac Death Risk: Research

Synopsis

A recent study reveals that long-term use of antidepressants may significantly increase the risk of sudden cardiac death, with the risk varying by age and duration of usage. It highlights the importance of understanding the potential cardiovascular impacts associated with these medications.

Key Takeaways

Long-term antidepressant use increases risk of sudden cardiac death.
Risk varies by age and duration of use.
56% increased risk for 1-5 years of use.
2.2 times higher risk for 6+ years of exposure.
Need for further research on behavioral factors.

New Delhi, March 31 (NationPress) Individuals who engage in long-term use of antidepressants may face a heightened risk of sudden cardiac death, a risk that fluctuates according to age and duration of use, according to new research.

Sudden cardiac death is defined as an unanticipated demise due to heart-related problems.

This can occur within an hour of symptom onset in witnessed cases or within 24 hours of the last sighting of the individual in unwitnessed cases.

The investigation, which encompassed 4.3 million Danish residents, revealed that individuals taking antidepressants for 1 to 5 years had a 56 percent greater risk of sudden cardiac death. Meanwhile, those on antidepressants for six or more years faced a risk that was 2.2 times higher.

Among those aged 30-39 years, compared to the unexposed general population, individuals with one to five years of antidepressant exposure were nearly three times more likely to experience sudden cardiac death. This risk escalated to five times higher for those on antidepressants for six or more years.

For people aged 50-59 years, those using antidepressants for one to five years had their risk of sudden cardiac death doubled. Furthermore, individuals exposed to antidepressants for six or more years had a risk that was four times higher.

“The duration of antidepressant exposure was linked to an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death, correlating with how long the individual had been on these medications,” stated Dr. Jasmin Mujkanovic from the Rigshospitalet Hjertecentret, Copenhagen, Denmark.

“Those exposed for six years or more faced an even greater risk than those with one to five years of exposure when compared to the unexposed population,” Mujkanovic elaborated.

The underlying causes for those under 39 years often include thickening of the heart muscle or electrical issues with the heart. In contrast, older individuals typically experience narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart, according to researchers who presented their findings at EHRA 2025, a scientific congress organized by the European Society of Cardiology.

Mujkanovic noted that the risk of sudden cardiac death may stem from potential negative effects of antidepressants along with the length of exposure.

Additionally, “the increase could also be impacted by behavioral or lifestyle factors related to depression, such as delayed healthcare seeking and poor cardiovascular health,” she continued, underscoring the need for further investigation.