New Delhi: A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s EHRA 2025 scientific congress has found a strong association between long-term antidepressant use and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The research highlights that individuals with a history of antidepressant (AD) use face a significantly elevated risk of SCD compared to those in the general population with no such exposure—especially among younger adults and those with prolonged usage.
The study was led by Dr Jasmin Mujkanovic from Rigshospitalet Hjertecentret in Copenhagen, Denmark. Researchers observed that the risk of SCD increased with the duration of antidepressant use, with people exposed for six years or more having notably higher risk than those treated for shorter periods.
Among adults aged 30–39 years, those with 1 to 5 years of AD use were found to be three times more likely to suffer sudden cardiac death compared to the unexposed population. This risk increased further, to five times higher, among those with six or more years of AD exposure. Similarly, individuals aged 50–59 showed a doubling in risk with 1–5 years of exposure, which jumped to four times higher in those treated for over six years.
The trend continued across older age groups, although the relative risk appeared to decline with age. For example, among those aged 70–79, 1–5 years of antidepressant use increased SCD risk by 83%, while six or more years of use raised the risk by 2.2 times compared to unexposed peers.
Dr Mujkanovic emphasized that the association was not uniform across all age brackets, with the relative risk decreasing in older adults. However, in the 40–79 age group, individuals with over six years of antidepressant use consistently exhibited significantly higher incidence rate ratios for sudden cardiac death compared to those exposed for 1–5 years.
The mechanisms behind the increased risk may vary with age. In younger adults, SCD is often linked to inherited electrical or structural heart conditions, while in older adults, it is more commonly associated with coronary artery disease.
Although previous studies have established that psychiatric disorders themselves increase overall mortality and SCD risk, this study specifically pinpoints antidepressant exposure as a possible contributing factor—especially with long-term use.
These findings call for further investigation into the cardiac safety of prolonged antidepressant treatment, particularly among younger populations.