Adam H Dyer1,2, Claire Murphy1, Robert Briggs1,2,3, Brian Lawlor3, Sean P Kennelly1,2. 1. Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Tallaght, Ireland. 2. Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 3. Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Antidepressant use is often reported as a risk factor for Orthostatic Hypotension (OH), however this relationship has never been explored in those with mild/moderate Alzheimer Disease (AD), who may represent a particularly vulnerable cohort. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the NILVAD study. Participants with mild-moderate AD were recruited from 23 centres in nine countries. Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP/DBP) was recorded in the seated position and after both 1 and 5 minutes of standing. OH was defined as a drop of ≥20 mmHg SBP/≥10 mmHg DBP. We examined the relationship between antidepressant use, orthostatic BP drop and the presence of OH, controlling for important covariates. RESULTS: Of 509 participants (72.9 ± 8.3 years, 61.9% female), two-fifths (39.1%; 199/509) were prescribed a regular antidepressant. Antidepressant use was associated with a significantly greater SBP and DBP drop at 5 minutes (β: 1.83, 0.16-3.50, P = .03 for SBP; β: 1.13, 0.02-2.25, P < .05 for DBP). Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) use was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of OH (OR 2.0, 1.1-3.6, P = .02). Both findings persisted following robust covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with AD, antidepressants were associated with a significantly greater SBP/DBP drop at 5 minutes. SSRI use in particular may be a risk factor for OH. This emphasises the need to screen older antidepressant users, and particularly those with AD, for ongoing orthostatic symptoms in order to reduce the risk of falls in this vulnerable cohort.
OBJECTIVES: Antidepressant use is often reported as a risk factor for Orthostatic Hypotension (OH), however this relationship has never been explored in those with mild/moderate Alzheimer Disease (AD), who may represent a particularly vulnerable cohort. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the NILVAD study. Participants with mild-moderate AD were recruited from 23 centres in nine countries. Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP/DBP) was recorded in the seated position and after both 1 and 5 minutes of standing. OH was defined as a drop of ≥20 mmHg SBP/≥10 mmHg DBP. We examined the relationship between antidepressant use, orthostatic BP drop and the presence of OH, controlling for important covariates. RESULTS: Of 509 participants (72.9 ± 8.3 years, 61.9% female), two-fifths (39.1%; 199/509) were prescribed a regular antidepressant. Antidepressant use was associated with a significantly greater SBP and DBP drop at 5 minutes (β: 1.83, 0.16-3.50, P = .03 for SBP; β: 1.13, 0.02-2.25, P < .05 for DBP). Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) use was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of OH (OR 2.0, 1.1-3.6, P = .02). Both findings persisted following robust covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with AD, antidepressants were associated with a significantly greater SBP/DBP drop at 5 minutes. SSRI use in particular may be a risk factor for OH. This emphasises the need to screen older antidepressant users, and particularly those with AD, for ongoing orthostatic symptoms in order to reduce the risk of falls in this vulnerable cohort.
Authors: José Caamaño-Ponte; Martina Gómez Digón; Mercedes Pereira Pía; Antonio de la Iglesia Cabezudo; Margarita Echevarría Canoura; David Facal Journal: Geriatrics (Basel) Date: 2021-12-28
Authors: Islam Mohammad Shehata; Waniyah Masood; Nouran Nemr; Alexandra Anderson; Kamal Bhusal; Amber N Edinoff; Elyse M Cornett; Adam M Kaye; Alan D Kaye Journal: Neurol Int Date: 2022-03-22