Antidepressant effect on cardiovascular risk and weight in geriatric population: a retrospective study

Joana Carneiro De Moura, André Filipe Sousa, Pedro Alves Peixoto

Keywords: cardiovascular risk; geriatric population;

Background:

The relationship between antidepressant (AD) initiation and increased weight and cardiovascular risk is controversial. Some studies associate AD use with higher risks of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, while others report a 1.5 times higher risk of stroke in elderly patients with depression.

Research questions:

Can the introduction of antidepressants alter cardiovascular risk?

Method:

This retrospective observational cohort study included 108 patients over 65 years old with Depressive Disorder, who began AD treatment at the Unidade de Saúde de Freamunde and União Penafidelis. Data on weight, BMI, Cardiovascular Risk (CVR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, and Triglycerides (Tg) were collected before and after one year of AD treatment. Comparisons were made using t-tests or Wilcoxon tests for paired measures based on data normality.

Results:

In this cohort, BMI decreased from 28.43±4.30 to 28.13±4.12 kg/m² (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed in CVR (12.41±7.27% to 12.96±7.60%), SBP (130.34±15.35 mmHg to 133.50±15.03 mmHg), DBP (74.54±8.74 mmHg to 75.31±8.1 mmHg), TC (176.61±37.24 mg/dL to 175.82±35.98 mg/dL), LDL (99.8±31.21 mg/dL to 99.39±29.92 mg/dL), HDL (53.04±12.85 to 52.77±13.94 mg/dL), and Tg (124.52±57.80 mg/dL to 123.80±64.64 mg/dL).

Conclusions:

This study assessed cardiovascular risk and weight changes in elderly patients with Depressive Disorder after starting ADs. Results showed a negligible increase in CVR (12.41 to 12.96) and a reduction in BMI (28.43 to 28.13), indicating that ADs did not increase CVR and may have reduced BMI. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Points for discussion:

Relationship between antidepressant (AD) initiation and increased weight and cardiovascular risk

Antidepressant can increase risk of diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia

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