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Drug-induced Sudden Death: A Scoping Review
Kristopher Amaro-Hosey1,2,3, Xavier Castells2, Lidia Blanco-Silvente3
1Clinical Pharmacology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
Current Drug Safety
|May 27, 2022
Summary
Drug use can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This review found highly varied study methods and inconclusive results, highlighting a need for improved research to confirm drug-induced SCD risks.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Drug use is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).
- Existing literature describes this risk inconsistently.
- Further investigation is needed to clarify the relationship between drug use and SCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review epidemiological studies on drug-induced sudden death.
- To analyze the methodologies employed in these studies.
- To summarize the findings regarding drug-induced sudden death.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review of the Medline electronic database was conducted, limited to studies up to 2020.
- Epidemiological studies were included; case reports and series were excluded.
- Data sources included administrative databases and medical charts.
Main Results:
- 74 studies were included, primarily from North America and Europe, using case-control or cohort designs.
- Psychotropic drugs were most frequently studied, with suggested increased risks for antipsychotics, antidepressants, domperidone, and antiepileptics.
- Methodologies were heterogeneous, with limited use of autopsy results (18.9%) and varied data sources.
Conclusions:
- The methodologies in studies on drug-induced sudden death are highly heterogeneous.
- Current results are generally inconclusive regarding the risk of SCD associated with drug use.
- Improved research methodologies are essential to draw definitive conclusions.