Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study

<p><strong>Background </p></strong>New National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance endorses the prescription of statins in larger population groups for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in people wit...

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Main Authors: De Giorgi, R, De Crescenzo, F, Ostinelli, E, Cowen, P, Harmer, C, Fazel, S, Cipriani, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024
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author De Giorgi, R
De Crescenzo, F
Ostinelli, E
Cowen, P
Harmer, C
Fazel, S
Cipriani, A
author_facet De Giorgi, R
De Crescenzo, F
Ostinelli, E
Cowen, P
Harmer, C
Fazel, S
Cipriani, A
author_sort De Giorgi, R
collection OXFORD
description <p><strong>Background </p></strong>New National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance endorses the prescription of statins in larger population groups for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in people with severe mental illness. However, the evidence base for their safety and risk/benefit balance in depression is not established. <p><strong> Objectives </p></strong>This study aims to assess the real-world mortality and adverse events of statins in depressive disorders. <p><strong> Methods </p></strong>Population-based, nationwide (England), between-subject, cohort study. We used electronic health records (QResearch database) of people aged 18–100 years with first-episode depression, registered with English primary care practices over January 1998–August 2020 for 12(+) months, divided into statin users versus non-users. <br> Primary safety outcomes included all-cause mortality and any adverse event measured at 2, 6 and 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to control for several potential confounders and calculate adjusted ORs (aORs) with 99% CIs. <p><strong> Findings </p></strong>From over 1 050 105 patients with depression (42.64% males, mean age 43.23±18.32 years), 21 384 (2.04%) died, while 707 111 (67.34%) experienced at least one adverse event during the 12-month follow-up. Statin use was associated with lower mortality over 12 months (range aOR2–12months 0.66–0.67, range 99% CI 0.60 to 0.73) and with lower adverse events over 6 months (range aOR2–6months 0.90–0.96, range 99% CI 0.91 to 0.99), but not at 1 year (aOR12months 0.99, 99% CI 0.96 to 1.03). No association with any other individual outcome measure (ie, any other neuropsychiatric symptoms) was identified. <p><strong> Conclusions </p></strong>We found no evidence that statin use among people with depression increases mortality or other adverse events. <p><strong> Clinical implications </p></strong>Our findings support the safety of updated NICE guidelines for prescribing statins in people with depressive disorders.
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spelling oxford-uuid:40da4ee4-1849-427c-a8a6-697deeae45ba2024-07-29T15:45:17ZMortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:40da4ee4-1849-427c-a8a6-697deeae45baEnglishSymplectic ElementsBMJ Publishing Group2024De Giorgi, RDe Crescenzo, FOstinelli, ECowen, PHarmer, CFazel, SCipriani, A<p><strong>Background </p></strong>New National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance endorses the prescription of statins in larger population groups for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in people with severe mental illness. However, the evidence base for their safety and risk/benefit balance in depression is not established. <p><strong> Objectives </p></strong>This study aims to assess the real-world mortality and adverse events of statins in depressive disorders. <p><strong> Methods </p></strong>Population-based, nationwide (England), between-subject, cohort study. We used electronic health records (QResearch database) of people aged 18–100 years with first-episode depression, registered with English primary care practices over January 1998–August 2020 for 12(+) months, divided into statin users versus non-users. <br> Primary safety outcomes included all-cause mortality and any adverse event measured at 2, 6 and 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to control for several potential confounders and calculate adjusted ORs (aORs) with 99% CIs. <p><strong> Findings </p></strong>From over 1 050 105 patients with depression (42.64% males, mean age 43.23±18.32 years), 21 384 (2.04%) died, while 707 111 (67.34%) experienced at least one adverse event during the 12-month follow-up. Statin use was associated with lower mortality over 12 months (range aOR2–12months 0.66–0.67, range 99% CI 0.60 to 0.73) and with lower adverse events over 6 months (range aOR2–6months 0.90–0.96, range 99% CI 0.91 to 0.99), but not at 1 year (aOR12months 0.99, 99% CI 0.96 to 1.03). No association with any other individual outcome measure (ie, any other neuropsychiatric symptoms) was identified. <p><strong> Conclusions </p></strong>We found no evidence that statin use among people with depression increases mortality or other adverse events. <p><strong> Clinical implications </p></strong>Our findings support the safety of updated NICE guidelines for prescribing statins in people with depressive disorders.
spellingShingle De Giorgi, R
De Crescenzo, F
Ostinelli, E
Cowen, P
Harmer, C
Fazel, S
Cipriani, A
Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study
title Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study
title_full Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study
title_fullStr Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study
title_short Mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression: a real-world, population-based cohort study
title_sort mortality and adverse events associated with statin use in primary care patients with depression a real world population based cohort study
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