School of Pharmacy-Led Study Reveals Increased Death Risk for Dementia Patients on Antidepressants
A major new study from Queen's University Belfast has found that people living with dementia face an increased risk of death when prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, underscoring the need for regular medication reviews.
The research, led by the School of Pharmacy and Centre for Public Health at Queen's, examined 28,781 people living with dementia across Northern Ireland over a nine-year period from 2012 to 2020. The findings reveal that some commonly prescribed medications may not always be appropriate for dementia patients, raising important questions about current prescribing practices.
Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with an estimated 10 million new cases diagnosed every year. As the proportion of the population aged 65 and over continues to grow, the prevalence of dementia is projected to rise significantly.
Catherine Sinnamon, a lead author on the research and a postgraduate research student from the School of Pharmacy, highlighted the urgency of the work.
"Dementia is one of the leading causes of death globally and currently there is no effective treatment for the disease. It is therefore vitally important we look to ways to improve health and quality of life and reduce social and economic costs. "People living with dementia often have other medical conditions which means that they are prescribed multiple medications. Sometimes these medicines may not always be appropriate. Our study aimed to uncover how antidepressant medications affect people with dementia to ensure we can provide them with the best treatment and care."
The research team analysed prescribing trends for medications used to treat depression and anxiety in people with dementia and explored the association between these medications and the risk of death. Of those who died during the follow-up period, 59.2% had been prescribed antidepressants, while 44.8% had been prescribed anti-anxiety medications. The results showed evidence of a slight increased risk of death among those prescribed antidepressants and a strong increased risk among those prescribed anti-anxiety medications.
Dr Heather Barry, principal investigator on the study, said:
“The findings extend our knowledge and highlight the importance of judicious prescribing for people with dementia. It further underscores the importance of medications being regularly and thoroughly reviewed in people with dementia, whether that be by a GP or a pharmacist, to ensure they are still appropriate and are still needed."
Dr Heather Barry was the lead investigator on this work.
Professor Gavin Andrews, Head of the School of Pharmacy at Queen's, said:
"This research demonstrates the vital role our School plays in generating evidence that directly impacts patient safety and care. The findings highlight why pharmacy-led medication reviews are so important, particularly for vulnerable populations such as those living with dementia. Congratulations must go to Dr Sinnamon, Dr Barry, and the wider team for producing work of such significance and real-world relevance."
The study was supported by staff at the Honest Broker Service within the Business Services Organisation Northern Ireland. The service is funded by the BSO and the Department of Health.
Dr Heather Barry
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