Antidepressant use increases hip fracture risk among elderly
For each person with Alzheimer's disease , two controls without the disease were matched by age and sex. Antidepressant use was associated with two times higher risk of hip fracture among controls. However, the relative number of hip fractures was higher among persons with Alzheimer's disease compared to controls. The increased risk was associated with all of the most frequently used antidepressant groups , which were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI drugs), mirtazapine and selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI drugs). The association between antidepressant use and the increased risk of hip fracture persisted even after adjusting the results for use of other medication increasing the risk of fall, osteoporosis, socioeconomic status, history of psychiatric diseases, and chronic diseases increasing the risk of fall or fracture. Antidepressants are used not only for the treatment of depression, but also for the treatment of chronic pain and behavior...