Patients who survived acute MI used more aspirin, beta blockers than sudden death population examined.

Common psychotropic medications such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines may contribute to an increased risk for sudden death during an acute coronary event, according to a study presented at Heart Rhythm 2009.

Jussi Honkola, MD,of the University of Oulu, Finland, and colleagues conducted a prospective substudy of the FinGesture study, comparing the medications of 321 patients who had sudden cardiac death due to an acute coronary event as confirmed by a medicolegal autopsy, with 609 patients who survived an acute MI. Researchers examined medication histories from autopsy records and conducted interviews with the patient’s relatives.

The researchers found that patients who had died had used more antipsychotics compared with the MI survivors (10.9% vs. 1.4%), more antidepressants (7.4% vs. 3%) and benzodiazepines (18.4% vs. 5%).

The study results also showed the MI survivors used beta blockers more frequently compared with those who died (adjusted OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.24-0.93, P=0.03), and aspirin use was also more common among MI survivors (adjusted OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.64, P=0.002).

Honkola J. PO02-120. Presented at: Heart Rhythm 2009; May 13-16, 2009; Boston.

FROM CARDIOLOGY TODAY, Section: ARRHYTHMIA DISORDERS, May 18, 2009