Key result
SSRIs show no cardiometabolic effects in healthy young adults but are linked to lower HFpeak.
Why the study?
SSRIs are frequently used for psychological disorders, but their comprehensive effects on cardiometabolic health in young healthy populations are not well described.
Does selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use affect cardiometabolic health markers in young healthy individuals?
Case-Control
Does selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use affect cardiometabolic health markers in young healthy individuals?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
SSRI use in young healthy individuals does not significantly impact major cardiometabolic risk markers like blood pressure, arterial stiffness, or lipid profiles, though it may subtly influence microvascular function and heart rate variability.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that are frequently used to treat psychological disorders, but the comprehensive effects on cardiometabolic health in young healthy populations are not well described. Healthy men and women using SSRIs and sex-, age-, height-, and weight-matched controls were assessed. Anthropometrics, blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness (AS), heart rate variability (HRV), near-infrared vascular occlusion test (NIRS-VOT), and blood lipid profile were assessed, with subsequent Framingham CVD risk score calculation. There were no significant differences in central or peripheral BP or AS due to SSRI use (all, p > 0.39, Cohen's d < 0.48). HRV was not different between groups (all, p > 0.43, Cohen's d < 0.44), except for HFpeak, which was lower in SSRI users (0.20 ± 0.05 vs. 0.28 ± 0.06 Hz, p = 0.04, Cohen's d = 1.26). There were no significant differences in blood lipids (all, p > 0.22, Cohen's d < 0.09) or Framingham risk scores (both, p > 0.68, Cohen's d < 0.14) between groups. There were no significant differences in microvascular reactivity between groups, however, reperfusion slope was lower in SSRI users (1.2 ± 0.9 vs. 2.0 ± 1.1%/s, p = 0.10, Cohen's d = 0.93). SSRIs do not appear to have any significant effects on blood pressure, heart rate variability, arterial stiffness, or lipid profile in young healthy individuals but may influence microvascular function.
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Shostak et al. (2025) conducted a case-control in Healthy young individuals. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) vs. Matched controls was evaluated on Cardiometabolic health markers (blood pressure, arterial stiffness, heart rate variability, blood lipids, and Framingham CVD risk score). SSRI use in young healthy individuals did not significantly affect blood pressure, arterial stiffness, or lipid profiles, but was associated with a lower HFpeak (0.20 vs 0.28 Hz, p=0.04).
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