Antidepressants and the risk of death in older patients with depression: A population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antidepressants are frequently used in older patients with depression, but little is known about the comparative safety of individual agents. The objective of the study was to determine the comparative risk of death of antidepressants in older patients with depression.

Methods and findings

We carried out a cohort study from 2004 to 2015 utilizing the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database, a population-based database supplied by statutory health insurance providers covering approximately 17% of the general population and all geographical regions. We included 376,846 patients aged 65+ years with a diagnosis of depression who initiated treatment with one of 13 antidepressants (ADs). In total 27,019 patients died during follow-up corresponding to a rate of

SUBMITTER: Kollhorst B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6464187 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature