Exploring the use of psychotropic medication in cardiac patients with and without anxiety and its association with 1-year mortality

Comorbid psychiatric disorders and the use of psychotropic medication are common among cardiac patients and have been found to increase the risk of mortality. The aims of this study were: (i) to describe the use of psychotropic medication among cardiac patients with and without symptoms of anxiety, (ii) to estimate the association between use of psychotropic medication prior to hospital admission and all-cause, 1-year mortality following discharge, and (iii) to estimate the risk of mortality among users and non-users of psychotropic medication with or without self-reported symptoms of anxiety.

Cardiac patients from the DenHeart survey were included, providing information on self-reported symptoms of anxiety. From national registers, information on the use of psychotropic medication 6 months prior to hospitalization and mortality was obtained. By logistic regression analyses, the association between the use of psychotropic medication, anxiety, and all-cause, 1-year mortality was estimated. The risk of subsequent incident use of psychotropic medication among patients with and without anxiety was furthermore explored. All analyses were fully adjusted. A total of 12 913 patients were included, of whom 18% used psychotropic medication, and 3% died within 1 year. The use of psychotropic medication was found to be associated with increased 1-year all-cause mortality [odds ratio 1.90 (95% confidence interval, 1.46–2.46)]. Patients with symptoms of anxiety were significantly more likely to use psychotropic medication following hospital discharge [2.47 (2.25–2.72)].

The use of psychotropic medication was associated with 1-year mortality. Thus, the use of psychotropic medication might explain some of the association between anxiety and mortality; however, the association is probably mainly a reflection of the underlying mental illness, rather than the use of psychotropic medication.