Posted by ed_uk on July 8, 2005, at 15:34:23
SSRIs may lessen risk of recurrent cardiac events and death
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce the risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) or death in patients who have had an acute MI, a secondary analysis of the enhancing recovery in coronary heart disease (ENRICHD) study has shown (Archives of General Psychiatry 2005;62:792).
The researchers say that their observations warrant a prospective, randomised controlled trial to determine whether SSRIs can alter cardiovascular outcomes post MI.
The study involved 1,834 patients with acute MI and depression, of whom 446 took antidepressants, including 301 who were prescribed SSRIs. The analysis showed that during an average follow up of 29 months, SSRI use was associated with a 43 per cent lower risk of death or non-fatal MI and a 43 per cent lower risk of all cause mortality compared with patients not receiving SSRIs.
In an accompanying editorial (ibid, p711), Alexander Glassman, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, points out that only the most depressed patients, who are known to be at higher risk of cardiac events, were offered antidepressants. He adds: “This is a post-hoc observation of an association, not an a priori test of a hypothesis. It is, however, the strongest signal yet that antidepressant drugs can reduce life-threatening events.”
poster:ed_uk
thread:525024
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050708/msgs/525024.html