Cardiovascular drug prescriptions and risk of depression in diabetic patients

Our aim was to investigate the association of calcium channel blocker (CCB) , beta-blocker, and ACE inhibitor medications with the risk of depression i n diabetic patients. A case control study was performed using an automated database (MediPlus, IMS) of 400 primary care practices in Germany including 912 diabetic cases with newly diagnosed depression in 1996 (index date) an d 912 diabetic controls, matched for age, sex, and index date. The odds rat ios (95%-confidence intervals) for depression, adjusted for type of practic e, number of Visits and prescriptions, hospitalization, cardiovascular diag noses, and renal failure, were 2.2 (95% CI: 1.2-4.2) for exposure to CCB 6 months prior to index date, 2.6 (95% CI: 1.1-7.0) for beta-blockers, and 1. 3 (95% CI: 0.8-2.2) for ACE inhibitors, respectively. Adjusted odds ratio f or CCB (4.3; 95% CI: 1.7-13.5) and beta-blockers (4.5; 95% CI: 1.2-29.5) we re higher with daily dosages above the median. Prescriptions of CCB and bet a-blockers among diabetic patients may increase the risk of depression Beca use this association may alternatively be explained by cardiovascular comor bidity, further studies will be necessary to investigate the link between t hese cardiovascular medications and depression. J CLIN EPIDEMIOL 52;11:1103 -1109, 1999 (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.