Antidepressants and the Risk of Stroke Recurrence
Antidepressants and the Risk of Stroke Recurrence
Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability and mortality worldwide, resulting in tremendous socioeconomic burden. The recurrence rate of stroke readmission within one year was 13 % in Taiwan. Compared with incident stroke events, recurrent events were likely to have higher mortality rates, greater levels of disability, and increased costs.
Use of antidepressants had positive effect on the management of stroke patients due to the reduction in incidence rate of post-stroke depression and improvement in functional recovery, but use of antidepressants also increased side effects. In the cochrane review, the authors concluded that SSRIs might improve recovery after stroke, and that there was heterogeneity between published trials and methodological limitations. Recent epidemiological studies had shown antidepressants use was associated with an increased risk of developing stroke; however, data on stroke recurrence were limited. Moreover, some studies have indicated depression was associated with a higher risk of stroke, including recurrent events. The association of fatal stroke in patients with depression who receiving antidepressants was even stronger. The role of depression in the association between antidepressants use and stroke recurrence remains unclear. We used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan to evaluate whether antidepressants use is associated with increased risk of stroke recurrence.
Background
Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability and mortality worldwide, resulting in tremendous socioeconomic burden. The recurrence rate of stroke readmission within one year was 13 % in Taiwan. Compared with incident stroke events, recurrent events were likely to have higher mortality rates, greater levels of disability, and increased costs.
Use of antidepressants had positive effect on the management of stroke patients due to the reduction in incidence rate of post-stroke depression and improvement in functional recovery, but use of antidepressants also increased side effects. In the cochrane review, the authors concluded that SSRIs might improve recovery after stroke, and that there was heterogeneity between published trials and methodological limitations. Recent epidemiological studies had shown antidepressants use was associated with an increased risk of developing stroke; however, data on stroke recurrence were limited. Moreover, some studies have indicated depression was associated with a higher risk of stroke, including recurrent events. The association of fatal stroke in patients with depression who receiving antidepressants was even stronger. The role of depression in the association between antidepressants use and stroke recurrence remains unclear. We used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan to evaluate whether antidepressants use is associated with increased risk of stroke recurrence.
