ANTIDEPRESSANT-TREATED PATIENTS IN AMBULATORY CARE - MORTALITY DURINGA 9-YEAR PERIOD AFTER FIRST TREATMENT

Background. Non-institutionalised patients treated with antidepressant s have been shown to have indicators of a generalised vulnerability, s uch as high rates of health service use and excessive prescription dru g use. Therefore, mortality in this patient group is of interest. Meth od. All first-incidence antidepressant users in a defined population d uring a five-year period were identified. Their total mortality during a nine-year follow-up was analysed. Cox proportional hazards regressi on was used to analyse total mortality, and mortality in cardiovascula r disease, controlling for baseline chronic medical disease. Results. Antidepressant treatment at the index date was a statistically signifi cant predictor for increased long-term mortality in the over-65s, even when controlling for pre-existing chronic medical disease. Baseline i schaemic heart disease and concurrent antidepressant treatment signifi cantly predicted mortality from cardiovascular causes. Conclusion. Pre scribed antidepressant treatment identifies patients who are at risk o f increased mortality. For the physician in ambulatory care, knowledge of a patient's antidepressant treatment history may be a valuable too l in managing patient care.