Antidepressant use is linked to higher sudden cardiac death risk across age groups, with new research showing the duration of exposure significantly impacts risk levels.
A comprehensive Danish [study](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1078452) presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s European Heart Rhythm Association 2025 congress reveals concerning associations between antidepressant medication and cardiovascular outcomes.
The large-scale study examined all deaths in Denmark during 2010 among residents aged 18 to 90 years. The researchers analyzed 45,701 deaths, identifying 6,002 cases of sudden cardiac death by reviewing death certificates and autopsy reports. They tracked [antidepressant](https://www.mcknights.com/news/most-antidepressants-not-effective-for-relieving-long-term-pain-review-finds/) exposure over 12 years.
For older adults, the findings show meaningful increases in risk. Among those aged 70 to 79 years, people using antidepressants for 1 to 5 years faced an 83% higher risk of sudden cardiac death compared with unexposed individuals. This risk increased to 2.2 times higher for those with 6 or more years of antidepressant exposure.
Although concerning for older adults, the risk patterns actually were more pronounced in younger populations. In the 30-to-39 age group, those with 1 to 5 years of antidepressant exposure were approximately three times more likely to experience sudden cardiac death, increasing to five times higher risk with 6+ years of exposure.
The relationship between exposure duration and risk varied by age. For those aged 40 to 49, the risk increased by 70% when comparing longer-term users (6+ years) with shorter-term users (1 to 5 years). For people aged 50 to 59, this comparative risk doubled.
“Exposure time to antidepressants was associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death and linked to how long the person had been exposed to antidepressants,” said study co-author Jasmin Mujkanovic, MD, PhD, Rigshospitalet Hjertecentret, Copenhagen. “Those exposed for 6 years or more were at even more increased risk than those exposed for 1 to 5 years, when compared with people unexposed to antidepressants in the general population.”
The researchers noted multiple potential explanations for this association, including direct medication effects or underlying factors.
“The increased risk of sudden cardiac death may be attributed to the potential adverse effects of the antidepressants. However, the exposure time to antidepressants might also serve as a marker for more severe underlying illness,” Mujkanovic stated.