A new study that was presented at this week’s EHRA 2025 conference in Lisbon has raised some alarm. It raises a new concern—that there may be an association between antidepressants and an increased risk of SCD. This new study sheds light on the impact of antidepressant use on age and utilization patterns. It further looks at the effect of the length of time these drugs are used.
Additionally, the results showed that individuals between 30 and 39 years who used antidepressants from one to five years had a threefold risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This risk was more than triple that for individuals who did not use these medications. Given that risk for SCD increases with age, this greater risk is offset by competing factors. Their research found that participants aged 40 to 79 had a notably increased incidence rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among long-term antidepressant users (≥6 years). In reality, their risk of SCD jumped up to at least five times higher.
The study did demonstrate a strong association between risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) with long-term use of antidepressants. In particular, the risk increased by 56%. The longer one has been taking these medications, the higher the risks are. In reality, their risk of sudden cardiac death doubles with long-term use.
Furthermore, depression is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) and CVD. That makes it tricky to make sense of these results. “It is important to recognize that having depression is itself an independent risk factor for SCD/cardiovascular disease,” emphasized Jasmin Mujkanovic, MD, who contributed to the research.
Antidepressants have been historically associated with cardiovascular comorbidities, including SCD, via mechanisms like QT prolongation. This unique condition leads to an increased time for the heart muscle to contract and then later relax. In some cases, this can result in dangerous arrhythmic events and rarely SCD itself.
Mujkanovic noted, “These medications can have potential adverse effects such as QT prolongation, which may increase the risk for adverse arrhythmic events, and in rare cases, SCD.” She further highlighted the complexity of interpreting these findings: “It is important to be cautious when interpreting this. Longer duration may be capturing more severe or more treatment-resistant depression which in fact is a risk for cardiovascular disease. It’s hard to separate the effects of the drug from the disease state.”
The study’s ramifications call on doctors to use greater caution when prescribing antidepressants. This is crucially important for everyone, but particularly for those who already have cardiovascular disease. Depression Antidepressant use Sudden cardiac death The causal pathway between antidepressant use and SCD is multifaceted. Until then, we need to study reliably how these medications affect cumulative cardiovascular health.
More research is warranted to explore the complex relationship between psychiatric disorders, antidepressant use, and SCD risk,” Mujkanovic added. So too, the research community has been busy, and rightly so, attempting to further elucidate these links. At the same time, healthcare providers need to weigh the benefits of treating depression against the possible cardiovascular risks.
Sudden Cardiac Death is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the deaths registered under cardiovascular disease. Antidepressant use has a huge impact on public health. Here’s what you need to know about its heart health implications.
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