Medication Exposure and Mortality in Patients With Schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines may influence the risk of mortality in people with schizophrenia. However, many observational studies have not accounted for immortal time bias (ITB), which occurs when there is a period during which patients in the exposed group are necessarily alive and misclassified as exposed (the period between start of follow-up and initiation of drug). Ignoring ITB may lead to misinterpretation of the association between these drugs and mortality.

Objectives

To examine whether the cumulative dose of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines is associated with mortality risk in patients with schizophrenia and discuss the potential impacts of ignoring ITB.

Design, setting, and participants

This

SUBMITTER: Brodeur S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11584925 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature