OREANDA-NEWS Danish cardiologists have found that taking antidepressants can significantly increase the likelihood of sudden cardiac arrest, especially in people under forty. The study, which covered mortality data across the country, revealed an alarming pattern: the longer a person takes these drugs, the higher the risk of death without warning symptoms. The results of the work are presented on the portal of the European Society of Cardiology.

Taking antidepressants for a period of one to five years increased the risk of sudden cardiac death by an average of 56 percent. However, in people aged 30-39 years, short-term use tripled the chances of such an outcome, and taking longer than five years increased the risk by five times.

Sudden cardiac death occurs within a few hours after the first signs of heart failure or without them at all. The cause may be both disturbances in the electrical activity of the myocardium and vascular pathologies.

The scientists emphasize that the data obtained does not mean a refusal of treatment, but requires a careful assessment of the benefits and risks of long-term administration of antidepressants, especially to young patients.