OBJECTIVE: To assess whether antidepressant treatment is associated with a temporary increase in the risk of a motor vehicle crash among older adults. DESIGN: Population-based case-only time-to-event analysis. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Data from transportation and healthcare databases for adults age 65 and older in Ontario, Canada, between January 1, 2000, and October 31, 2007. Consecutive adults who had a motor vehicle crash anytime following their 66th birthday. MEASUREMENTS: The primary exposure variable was treatment with antidepressant medication, and the primary outcome measure was a motor vehicle crash. RESULTS: A total of 159,678 individuals had a crash during the study, of whom 7,393 (5%) received an antidepressant in the month prior to the crash. The hazard ratio (HR) of crash associated with second-generation antidepressants was 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.13, χ² = 41.77, df = 1, p <0.0001), adjusted for gender, license suspensions, and other medications, but the risk for first-generation antidepressants was not significant. The increased risk was restricted to those who were also concurrently prescribed a benzodiazepine (adjusted HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.17-1.28, χ² = 85.28, df = 1, p <0.0001) or a strong anticholinergic medication (adjusted HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.57-1.69, χ² = 627.31, df = 1, p <0.0001), and was confined to crashes where the patient was at fault. The increased risk was apparent for the first 3-4 months following initiation of an antidepressant and returned to baseline thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Prescriptions for second-generation antidepressants in older adults are associated with a modest increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, when combined with other medications that can impair cognition.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether antidepressant treatment is associated with a temporary increase in the risk of a motor vehicle crash among older adults. DESIGN: Population-based case-only time-to-event analysis. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Data from transportation and healthcare databases for adults age 65 and older in Ontario, Canada, between January 1, 2000, and October 31, 2007. Consecutive adults who had a motor vehicle crash anytime following their 66th birthday. MEASUREMENTS: The primary exposure variable was treatment with antidepressant medication, and the primary outcome measure was a motor vehicle crash. RESULTS: A total of 159,678 individuals had a crash during the study, of whom 7,393 (5%) received an antidepressant in the month prior to the crash. The hazard ratio (HR) of crash associated with second-generation antidepressants was 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.13, χ² = 41.77, df = 1, p <0.0001), adjusted for gender, license suspensions, and other medications, but the risk for first-generation antidepressants was not significant. The increased risk was restricted to those who were also concurrently prescribed a benzodiazepine (adjusted HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.17-1.28, χ² = 85.28, df = 1, p <0.0001) or a strong anticholinergic medication (adjusted HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.57-1.69, χ² = 627.31, df = 1, p <0.0001), and was confined to crashes where the patient was at fault. The increased risk was apparent for the first 3-4 months following initiation of an antidepressant and returned to baseline thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Prescriptions for second-generation antidepressants in older adults are associated with a modest increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, when combined with other medications that can impair cognition.
Authors: Charles E Leonard; Colleen M Brensinger; Emily K Acton; Todd A Miano; Ghadeer K Dawwas; John R Horn; Sophie Chung; Warren B Bilker; Sascha Dublin; Samantha E Soprano; Thanh Phuong Pham Nguyen; Melanie M Manis; David W Oslin; Douglas J Wiebe; Sean Hennessy Journal: Clin Pharmacol Ther Date: 2021-03-14 Impact factor: 6.903
Authors: Nick N J J M van der Sluiszen; Annemiek Vermeeren; Joke H van Dijken; Aurora J A E van de Loo; Janet L Veldstra; Dick de Waard; Joris C Verster; Karel A Brookhuis; Johannes G Ramaekers Journal: Hum Psychopharmacol Date: 2020-10-01 Impact factor: 1.672