New Delhi: A study suggests that prolonged use of antidepressants may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death, with the risk varying depending on age and duration of exposure.
Sudden cardiac death refers to an unexpected death, typically believed to be caused by a heart-related issue.
It occurs within one hour of symptom onset in witnessed cases or within 24 hours of the person being last seen alive in unwitnessed cases.
The study, which analyzed data from 4.3 million residents in Denmark, found that individuals using antidepressants for 1 to 5 years faced a 56% higher risk of sudden cardiac death. Those who used antidepressants for six or more years had a 2.2 times higher risk.
Among individuals aged 30-39, those with 1 to 5 years of antidepressant use were about three times more likely to experience sudden cardiac death compared to the general population. This risk increased to five times higher for those with six or more years of antidepressant use.
In individuals aged 50-59, those who used antidepressants for 1 to 5 years saw their risk of sudden cardiac death double. For those exposed to antidepressants for six or more years, the risk was four times higher.
“Exposure duration to antidepressants was linked to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death, with the risk rising according to the length of exposure,” said Dr. Jasmin Mujkanovic from the Rigshospitalet Hjertecentret in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“Those exposed for six or more years were at an even higher risk compared to those exposed for one to five years, when compared to the unexposed general population,” Mujkanovic added.
For individuals under 39, the causes of sudden cardiac death are often related to a thickening of the heart muscle or electrical issues with the heart. In older individuals, it is more likely due to a narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart, as noted by the researchers during the EHRA 2025 scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
Mujkanovic explained that the increased risk of sudden cardiac death could be attributed to both the potential adverse effects of antidepressants and the duration of exposure.
Additionally, she suggested that “the increase could be influenced by behavioral or lifestyle factors associated with depression, such as delayed healthcare seeking and poor cardiovascular health,” and called for further research to explore these factors.
