A systematic review of randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of Vortioxetine on metabolic syndrome risk indicators in patients with depression

The majority of antidepressants have been reported to cause metabolic syndrome (MetS). Paucity of information available for the effect of Vortioxetine on MetS. The study aims to assess the systematic review of Vortioxetine on depressive patients' blood pressure (BP), central obesity, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TGs), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which are risk factors for the MetS. PRISMA guidelines were followed in conducting this systematic review. The protocol has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021272614). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of Vortioxetine on MetS risk indicators were searched in electronic databases. RCTs that included adult patients 18-75 years of age, Major depression patients (MDD) and prescribed with Vortioxetine drug. Preclinical research, editorials, letters, reviews, case reports, studies in pediatric populations, unpublished grey literature were excluded Abstract and title screening was performed, followed by full-text screening using the Covidence software. Data were extracted, and analysis was done using Cochrane Review Manager (RevMan v5.1). Following the screening process, 8 RCTs (6 blinded and 2 open-label) were selected for systematic review. The MetS risk factors for Vortioxetine treatment in depressed patients were ambiguous from the available research. However, 4 of 8 RCTs have shown that Vortioxetine is an effective and safe treatment for depression. All the trials were methodological of high quality. Conclusions: A single study evaluating all the five MetS risk variables in depressed patients on Vortioxetine therapy is needed before recommending Vortioxetine as a first-line or switch therapy for depression.