Association between tricyclic antidepressants and health outcomes among older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Tricyclic antidepressants are effective for managing depression and other disorders. However, they can cause adverse reactions due to their anticholinergic properties, with the risk of such events increasing with age.

This study identifies and describes clinical studies that evaluate associations between the use of tricyclic antidepressants and adverse health outcomes (falls, fractures, and mortality) among older people.

A systematic search of the literature in English, Spanish, and French was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane. The systematic review included a total of 18 studies. The meta-analysis examined the 14 studies that investigated the association between the use of tricyclic antidepressants and the risk of falls and fractures (4 of the 18 studies focused on mortality and so were excluded from the meta-analysis). The odds ratio (OR) was 1.40 (95 % CI = 1.27–1.53, p < 0.001). The Cochran Q test was significant (X² = 79.72, p < 0.001), indicating high heterogeneity (I² = 84.9 %). An additional meta-analysis was conducted on studies reporting hazard ratios (HRs), yielding an HR of 1.21 (95 % CI = 0.93–1.58, p = 0.16). Meta-regression analysis indicated that the years of follow-up could have a significant effect on the association studied (p = 0.008).

In conclusion, enhancing our understanding of the use of antidepressants and the associated risk of adverse events in older adults will enable the identification of the most appropriate type of antidepressant for each clinical situation.