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Antihypertensive Drugs and Risk of Depression: A Nationwide Population-Based Study
Lars Vedel Kessing1, Helene Charlotte Rytgaard2, Claus Thorn Ekstrøm2
1From the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research Center, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet (L.V.K.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|August 25, 2020
Summary
Certain antihypertensive drugs, including specific angiotensin agents, calcium antagonists, and beta-blockers, were linked to a reduced risk of depression. This finding offers guidance for prescribing to at-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases increase depression risk.
- The impact of antihypertensive agents on depression risk is not well understood.
- Individual drug effects remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 41 individual antihypertensive drugs and the risk of new-onset depression.
- To compare the effects of different drug classes, including diuretics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Danish population-based registers from January 2005 to December 2015.
- Assessed two depression outcome measures: psychiatric diagnosis and combined diagnosis/antidepressant use.
- Analyzed 41 commonly used antihypertensive drugs and diuretics.
Main Results:
- Continued use of angiotensin agents, calcium antagonists, and beta-blockers showed significantly decreased depression rates.
- Specific drugs like enalapril, ramipril, amlodipine, verapamil, propranolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol were associated with lower depression risk.
- No antihypertensive drug was linked to an increased risk of depression.
Conclusions:
- Real-world data suggest continued use of nine specific antihypertensive agents may positively impact depression risk.
- Prescribing guidance should consider these findings for patients vulnerable to depression.
- This includes individuals with a history of depression, anxiety, or a family history of depression.
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